Can someone with BPD lack empathy?

❓Question Post

Title. I'm wondering if someone with BPD can lack empathy, because even though there are stereotypes about PWBPD being "hyper empathetic" that's not the case with me. I'm diagnosed with BPD and a few other stuff but even though I'm diagnosed with that I severely lack empathy and I've never felt affective empathy (feeling what others feel) in my life so I primarily rely on filtering events other people go through as "good" or "bad" but I may not sympathize or empathize. Although I can understand WHY someone else is feeling about an event that happened to them that doesn't mean I sympathize or empathize with them, especially not during splitting or when I'm devaluing someone. When someone does/says/is something that upsets me and I start devaluing them I will absolutely not have any empathy for them at all. For example if they tell me a tragic event or trauma they went through I won't empathize, but I'd think they deserved it and even wish worse, and it's not like I can control it. Note: I'm not diagnosed with ASPD and I suspected I had it before but I no longer suspect I have it because it just doesn't feel like me or something.

Posted Dec 30, 2025, 8:59 PM UTC

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