MSNBC: Rich people are less likely to feel empathy

[NNN0LHI]

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/231586.asp?from=blog_last3

Ever wonder why Donald Trump seems to relish saying "you're fired" so much? Sure, it's probably because his mental cash register is clanging away every time an episode of "The Apprentice" wraps up. But a study from the journal Psychological Science implies there could be more to it than that.

Rich people are less likely to feel empathy or successfully figure out what others are feeling, according to the study. On the other hand, those from middle-class backgrounds have higher levels of emotional intelligence.

From MSNBC:

In a series of studies, more than 300 upper- and lower-class people were asked the interpret the emotions of people in photos and of strangers during mock job interviews.

In both cases, those with more education, money and self-defined social status weren't nearly as adept at figuring out if a person was angry, happy, anxious or upset as their lower class colleagues.

[DrDan]

1. if you have never hit your thumb with a hammer, it is hard to imagine the pain

[NNN0LHI]

3. I don't know about that?

I have never been shot in the gut, but I am pretty sure that would hurt like hell.

Don

[Raine]

2. It might not have less to do with being rich

and more to being powerless. People on the bottom always have to interpret others moods etc because so much can depend on how you read the ones who are in power. It would be interesting to find out if a person who goes from powerless to powerful loses their edge in reading people's moods and emotions. Anyway just something I've wondered about for awhile.

[dkf]

5. Interesting theory.

I could see that.

[Nikia]

7. Women are said to have better emotional intelligence than men

Maybe it isn't just about nuturing children.

[MedicalAdmin]

4. Duh - of course they're bad at it. They're fucking sociopaths.

They should be in an institution somewhere on the Thorazine train to nowhere.

It ain't an accident that Reagan shut down the public mental health facilities.

[BlueJazz]

9. I was thinking the same thing. It's easier to obtain money if you don't...

..have any qualms about Fucking-Over nearly everybody in Society.

[cali]

11. ridiculous. so say the minute a poor person wins the lottery they

become a sociopath?

[MedicalAdmin]

12. Stay in the game and keep your eye on the ball ...

... a poor person who wins the lottery still thinks like a poor person. See the work or dr. Ruby Paine - she has done studies on the hidden rules of class and how different clawed of folks think and act. It's pretty eye opening.

It isn't the money that makes a sociopath, but a sociopath who has done anything to get money (kill grandpa, rip off old ladies, become a banker, etc) lacks empathy. They don't give a fuck. And that "I got mine now fuck you" attitude is prevalent in certain political circles.

[SpiralHawk]

6. "Who gives a shit?" - Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R)

[Nikia]

8. To be fair, being good at reading faces doesn't always equal feeling empathy

Some people who are superior at reading faces use that ability to hurt people, either for profit or social advantage. Some people with poor social abilities are painfully empathetic in feeling.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. I wish to enter into evidence generations of the Bush Family.