 Dark empaths are not empaths. It sounds self-contradictory, right? But what that means is that dark empaths are people who have a high level of cognitive empathy only, not emotional empathy or compassionate empathy. They're able to understand someone's emotions well and put themselves in other people's shoes. Yet, they don't possess the ability to provide wholehearted concern the way full empaths do. This is because, despite the fact that they are high in empathy, they're also high in the dark traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. One might mistake them as psychopaths because of their similarities, but here are five ways dark empaths are actually quite different from psychopaths. Number one, dark empaths show emotions, while psychopaths lack them. Have you ever met someone who seemed nice to you but later on displayed manipulative behaviors? Did their kindness ever seem scripted? Empathy is generally characterized by features such as an incapacity for love and a lack of remorse or shame. This is different from dark empaths who do show emotions no matter how fake they may seem. Dark empaths know where to take advantage of you best, and that is through your feelings. They know exactly what face to put on to manipulate you. Number two, they're empathetic, while psychopaths just don't care. Psychopaths chase the feeling of excitement without caring about whether their actions are hurting other people. Dark empaths, on the other hand, are more careful about their actions. Do you know someone who always seems to say the right words? Dark empaths can figure out your emotions pretty well. It's the main reason for the word empath in their name. Due to their high level of cognitive empathy, they may even notice things you're hiding from others. For example, they may notice that you're feeling down even when others do not. They may also congratulate you for an accomplishment to make you feel good about yourself. However, they do these things for harmful reasons, and when they've gotten the results they've wanted, they might begin acting distant. So try to be on the lookout. Someone being inconsistent with their behaviors is a telling sign of this. Number three, they're patient, while psychopaths are impulsive. Dark empaths know when to strike best. They're different from psychopaths who often make decisions on a whim. They think about a situation to figure out how they can manipulate it to their best advantage. Have you ever been used by someone you trusted? Dark empaths can spend a long time building a relationship, just to end up using it for their own interests. They like to take their time because they know how important it is to make themselves appear trustworthy to others. This is why it helps to be wary about people whose kindness seems fake. Is someone being nice to you all of a sudden? Are they love bombing you and spending more time with you than usual? It might be that they just want to be your friend, but if you notice that they engage in problematic behaviors such as backstabbing, gossiping, and the like, they probably won't be the best influence on you. Number four, dark empaths are careful, while psychopaths are reckless. Psychopaths lack remorse and engage in reckless behaviors that can put another person in peril. Dark empaths, on the other hand, care about how they look to others because this is the way they can gain their trustworthiness. They understand social cues, norms, and do their best to live just like the next person, so as to avoid any suspicion. However, they may also be inclined to perform behaviors such as gossiping or bullying. At times, they might even resort to physical aggression. This is because even though dark empaths are sociable beings, high in empathy, they also have the dark traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. As mentioned, they are high in cognitive empathy. In short, they read your emotions and use them against you because they don't possess the innate concern that full empaths have. Number five, they're extroverted, while psychopaths show antisocial behavior. While psychopathy is not a diagnosis in itself, many of the characteristics of psychopathy overlap with symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. They tend to stay away from social settings and instead act out, break rules, and perform uninhibited activities by themselves. Dark empaths are the opposite. They're usually found with other people because that is the environment they know best. They have a drive towards grandiosity and want to receive attention continuously. They know exactly when to comfort a person in need or be beside someone who's having a hard time. And with their charisma, they have the tendency to manipulate other people or even brew conflict between relationships so they look like the better person. Do you know anyone who could possibly be a dark empath? Share your experiences in the comment section below. Keep in mind that if someone does have these traits, they're not necessarily labeled a dark empath immediately. This applies to psychopathic traits too. Just because someone displays them doesn't mean they're a psychopath. The best thing to do is to visit a mental health professional if you or someone you know is displaying these signs in order to get an accurate diagnosis. Did this video give you some more insight? Share with a friend if you think it could help them. Don't forget to leave a like too. Until next time.