20 Shocking Truths About Narcissism: A Twisty Tour through Diagnosis and Treatment

Katherine MacAulay

12. The Empathy Deficit: More Complex Than Coldness

Annoyed husband narcissist raising voice at wife, reproaching, shouting at defensive woman. Photo Credit: Envato @varyapigu

The notorious lack of empathy in NPD is a nuanced, shocking truth. It's not necessarily an inability to understand others' emotions cognitively (cognitive empathy), but a profound difficulty in feeling or sharing those emotions (emotional empathy). This deficit enables them to exploit others without genuine remorse. Their focus remains on how a situation impacts them. This isn't always overt cruelty; it's a self-absorption that prevents true emotional connection, making authentic, reciprocal relationships almost impossible for them to maintain.

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12. The Empathy Deficit: More Complex Than Coldness

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