A dark empath is someone who can easily tell what other people are thinking and feeling and has high levels of social intelligence, but instead of using their powers for good—they control and manipulate people around them.
Answer these quick questions, and we’ll tell you if you might be a dark empath.
(Keep in mind that “dark empath” is not an actual scientific diagnosis, and this quiz is meant only for self-reflection purposes.)
Questions Overview
- No, that's none of my business.
- Absolutely. The juicier, the better.
- Sure, I like gossip, but I don't love learning dark secrets.
- Yes. Total strangers tend to trust me pretty easily.
- Sort of. People who know me pretty well tend to trust me.
- No really. I feel like it takes a while for people to learn to trust me.
- Relaxed
- Frustrated
- Angry
- Happy
- Helping others before you help yourself.
- Helping yourself before you help others.
- Excited
- Surprised
- Disappointed
- Scared
- Yes, to get what I want (especially if no one ever finds out).
- Yes, if it's for their own good.
- Sometimes, to protect yourself.
- It's never okay.
- Someone who can help me get what I want.
- Someone who always tells me the truth.
- Someone who's loyal to the end.
- Secretly get back at them. An eye for an eye.
- Ignore it, but only because they might be useful later.
- Forgive them. People make mistakes.
- No, I'm above average in intelligence and intuition.
- I think I'm pretty average.
- I might be below average, honestly.
- I don't really care, it's not my problem.
- It bothers me. I can't stand it. Can't we be chill?
- It's unfortunate, but I'll live.
- That's an opportunity for me to get something out of it.
- It's disappointing, but I try to give them grace and patience.
- I feel hurt for them, like I made the mistake myself.
- All the time. Hey, if it works, why not?
- Sometimes. If they owe me, they owe me.
- Not really, or I can't remember.
More Quizzes
So, to spot one, notice when someone around you is carrying heavy, depressing energy. Maybe they're complaining a lot, or they talk about how nothing ever works out for them, or they pretend to be supportive but then can't be your cheerleader. They are in a cycle of feeling like everything is going wrong for them, and they're not reaching for positivity or possible solutions. Think of the statement “misery loves company”. Sometimes, you can be around a friend that complains about something and if you don't jump on their bandwagon, they don't want to talk to you about it anymore because you're not pumping their tires.
Even if we don't have the proof that someone person is a dark empath, your goal should be to trust our own instincts. And if you’re around that energy and it doesn't feel good, just say to yourself, “this is not for me” and back away from it.
Dark Empaths and the Dark Triad
What is a dark empath?
A dark empath is someone who has no problem understanding what other people are thinking and feeling, but they’re not emotionally moved by those feelings. Instead, according to some pop psychologists, they may seek to take advantage of those feelings for their own gain. Usually, they exhibit all 3 parts of the dark triad.
What is the dark triad?
The “dark triad” is 3 independent personality traits that can cause problems when all 3 are present in someone’s personality. Those traits are Machiavellianism (manipulative tendencies), psychopathy (lack of empathy), and narcissism (self-centeredness). Some say that in order to be a dark empath, a person has to possess all 3 traits.
How is a dark empath different from an empath?
Some say that empaths possess both “cognitive empathy,” which is the ability to read other people’s feelings, and “emotional empathy,” which is the urge to get involved in those feelings. According to pop psychology, dark empaths have cognitive empathy, but not emotional empathy.
Are dark empaths real?
There’s no scientific evidence that dark empathy is a legitimate personality disorder. In fact, there’s no evidence that “empaths” are a thing either. These are terms made popular by pop psychology to explain certain behaviors in certain people. But the truth is that almost everyone possesses some amount of empathy (though there are personality disorders where this may not be the case), and everyone makes mistakes, like manipulating people. Having low empathy and making mistakes doesn’t make a person less human or supernaturally evil.
Want to learn more?
For more information about empathy and personality disorders, check out these scientific resources:
