Empathy Impairment That Affects Scam Victim’s Relationships – 2024
Empathy Impairment That Affects Scam Victim’s Relationships
Helping Scam Victims to Understand Another Way that Psychological Trauma Affects Them
Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology
Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Empathic impairment in scam victims often results from the emotional and psychological trauma they endure. This trauma can profoundly affect their judgment and interpersonal relationships, leading them to judge others’ suffering more harshly and minimize the needs of those around them.
While scam victims often crave understanding and empathy for their own experiences, their trauma can narrow their emotional focus, making it difficult to extend the same compassion to others. This empathic impairment can manifest as increased judgment, diminished emotional response, and a heightened focus on their own pain, which can strain relationships with family and friends.
Recognizing these signs of empathic impairment is essential for victims to complete the process of healing, which often involves therapy, self-reflection, and actively working to rebuild their capacity for empathy.
