Like the poor lack empathy and then as you go up the bell curve empathy rises, maxing out at middle class, and then again falling as you start hitting being rich?
I think what you’re observing is the interplay between two variables with opposing correlation with respect to wealth:
- Having empathy
- Ability to display empathy
Poorer people might have more empathy, but their ability to show it is inhibited because of lack of resources (time/energy/material) and lots of mental health issues that are a result of being poor. Wealthier people may have all the means to display empathy, but they’re less incentivized to do so. At some point in the middle, you get a sweet spot where there’s both sufficient desire and ability to do good.
I’ve always known the poor to be the most giving in society.
If you’re in trouble, or hurt or need - go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help - the only ones.
― John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
No, the working class and the lower class are both very empathic. I’m guessing you haven’t spent very much time with us.
I work in child welfare. I routinely do.
I’ve seen lots of lower income people who appear to lack empathy based on their actions.
