> To me, empathy is knowing that someone else might feel hard done by my actions. Compassion is allowing that to affect my actions. I don't dispute your definitions. When I say that I lack empathy to a degree, I mean just that. I don't even factor in how my actions my impact other people at times. It doesn't occur to me. It's not that I know my actions might hurt someone and don't care. Believe me, I do that too.