Suicidal empathy
Claimed pathological form of distorted empathy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suicidal empathy is a purported phenomenon in which excessive, misdirected and pathological forms of empathy are claimed to be destructive for the party that exhibits it. This is often claimed to happen through prioritizing compassion, understanding and empathy over logic, and long-term consequences. There is no support for this concept in psychology, and its proponents are not psychologists or sociologists. This phrase was coined by marketing professor Gad Saad.
The phrase "suicidal empathy" is commonly used by culture warriors, far-right figures, and Christian nationalists to condemn empathy towards groups such as immigrants and racial minorities, often in association with the Great Replacement conspiracy theory.[1][2] It has been referred to as a "right-wing buzzword" by The Bulwark.[3]
Overview
The term was popularized by Elon Musk, quoting Saad.[4] According to Saad, suicidal empathy is the inability to implement optimal decisions when one is psychologically conditioned to prioritize empathy or displays of empathy over a rational course of action.[5] He states that suicidal empathy prioritizes minority groups such as illegal migrants at the expense of survival and security of one's own groups and values.[6]
Saad claims that, by sanctioning the participation of trans women in women's athletics, suicidal empathy infringes on the rights of cis women. Another example claimed by Saad is the alleged entitlement of a greater portion of US government aid for illegal migrants rather than American veterans or American victims of natural disasters.[4][7]
Usage in broader discourse
In a 2025 interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Elon Musk uses the phrase "civilizational suicidal empathy" to refer to what he believes is the corrosion of American culture.[8] According to Musk, suicidal empathy refers to "weaponized" empathy to bring about political and policy modifications.[9][10][11]
Iain Macwhirter has compared Britain's net zero strategy to suicidal empathy, with moral ambition superseding economic self interest. The article argues that by restricting North Sea oil and gas production, imposing steep windfall taxes, and accelerating the shift to renewable resources, the UK is undermining its own energy security and industrial base. It makes the claim that these policies have led to inflated electricity prices, unemployment, and greater dependence on imported fuel, and as a result, sacrificed economic stability to meet climate targets that larger global emitters are not matching.[12]
Reception
The concept has been compared to the great replacement, a white supremacist conspiracy theory, as both posit the imminent destruction of western societies at the hands of immigrants. JD Vance was criticized by Pope Francis in 2025 for citing the medieval Catholic doctrine of ordo amoris to justify the withholding of empathy for migrants.[2] According to the news magazine Salon, the portrayal of empathy as a weapon is an "overt assault" on what is a natural virtue of human beings.[13] The magazine Eureka Street criticized Elon Musk for using the term "suicidal empathy" as a way to say "barbarians" are going to threaten "the American way of life".[14]
Historian of psychology Susan Lanzonia stated that she has never perceived a vilification of empathy as reflected in "current sources". Lanzonia believes that the disparagement of the concept of empathy is a structured attempt to dehumanize people who might be in need of it.[2]