Upper-class people less empathetic than lower-class people

[cecilia]

Upper-class people less empathetic than lower-class people: study

A study published in Psychological Science in November, for instance, found that people of upper-class status have trouble recognizing the emotions other people are feeling. People of lower-class status do a much better job.

"What I think is really interesting about that is, it kind of shows there’s all this strength to the lower class identity: greater empathy, more altruism, and finer attunement to other people,” Keltner said.

“One clear policy implication is, the idea of nobless oblige or trickle-down economics, certain versions of it, is bull," Keltner added. "Our data say you cannot rely on the wealthy to give back. The ‘thousand points of light’—this rise of compassion in the wealthy to fix all the problems of society—is improbable, psychologically."

Some people in the upper class have been known to get drunk and shoot their friend in the face! Imagine that!

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Upper-class people less empathetic than lower-class people: study

There isn't too much surprise there. You can only get so far being nice to other people. On the other hand, people further up the ladder have less NEED to be empathetic as they are somewhat insulated from the kinds of situations (like poverty) in which people have to depend on each other more and build those bonds.

So, is it a quality that allows you to put the screws to people so you can get an advantage, or is it just the atrophy of empathy through a lack of opportunity to use it? Or a little of both?

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

I guess I need to learn to read things before I comment on them so I don't accidentally just repeat what the article says.