When you hear that someone is an empath, you may think its a good thing they have a great sense of what others are feeling and thinking and they have a great deal of empathy as well, but what if someone possessed cognitive empathy and also displays traits of a dark personality type? Would they use your feelings against you? Know exactly how to behave appear kind and normal while hiding their true intentions?
A study by Heym and Associates found that out of the group of 991 participants, 19.3% are dark empaths. Those with dark personality types are based on their rank of triad personality traits and lack of empathy. The dark triad is a term used to group three malevolent personality traits in psychology.
The dark triad comprises the traits Machiavellism, narcissism, psychopathy. Dark triad personality types rank high in the three dark traits while low in empathy. Empaths on the other hand are low in dark traits and of course high in empathy. But a dark empath ranks high in both dark traits and empathy.
This means that just because you rank high in empathy doesn't mean you share another feelings emotionally. Dark empaths often use cognitive empathy to their advantage, meaning they know what it is you want and may used it against you.
To help you recognize if you're being manipulated by both someone who has both cognitive empathy and malevolent traits, here are the 5 signs of a dark empath.
#1 Their Kindness Often Feels Fake
You partner cuddles after a romantic evening with you. They say comforting words when you're worried and they compliment you at seemingly the right time but you can't help to feel that something is off. Something doesn't feel sincere about it at all. In fact, it sounds a bit forced or fake with their actions. So whats going on? Dark empaths know what to say and how they should act to appear as if they're the perfect partner. So they may sound a bit forced when they pay you certain compliments or go forward with certain actions.
However, it is important to look for other dark triad traits and signs before jumping into conclusion that they're dark empaths because they might just be a people pleaser.
#2 They Manipulate You
Dark empaths often will use their insight into cognitive empathy as a means of manipulating others. Since they are aware of what you might be feeling and thinking, they know exactly how to use your emotions against you. They have no boundaries and only focus in fulfilling their own needs. If you notice in the end of every argument or discussion that only their needs are met, they may be manipulating you.
#3 They Guilt Trip You
In the study from Heym and associates, dark empaths displayed higher indirect aggression than your average person. This was especially true in guilt tripping tactics. If you notice your partner often uses guilt as means of getting you to do what they want, this may be the first sign that they're a dark empath.
#4 They Love Malicious Humor
Dark empaths also demonstrated especially high indirect aggression and malicious humor. Sigmund Freud founder psycho analysis, called this type of humor tendentious. It's the worst type of humor and is destructive in nature. When one uses malicious humor, they often make hurtful jokes that put others beneath them, giving them the feeling of superiority over others.
#5 They Spread Rumors
Those who have dark triad trait Machiavellism often enjoy deceiving, manipulating and exploiting others in order to achieve their own needs and desires. Dark empaths have an easy way of manipulating others by narrowing in on their feelings and weaknesses. They may spread rumors about what they've sensed to you're most insecure about or vulnerable about.
They know exactly how to hurt you because they the ability to understand to what is you're feeling on a cognitive level. They simply need to understand what it is that hurts you, and spread gossip and rumors to focus on that to get exactly what they want.
While dark empathy is associated with cognitive empathy, this terminology is misleading, and that in general, being an empathetic person means having a benevolent mindset.
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