The geek has been doing some research (fun!) and I came across some things online yesterday. Can’t find the stuff again right now (let me know, anybody, if you want it and I’ll try to find the links again) but the picture I’m beginning to get is that in “normals” the switch for emotional empathy is set “on”. It helps in bonding with other people, which has helped us work together and be such a successful species.

It can be turned “off” when we are stressed or traumatized, in which case we are more like psychopaths are normally.

On the other hand, the default setting for psychopaths is “off”. It can be turned “on”, in a way, and used instrumentally toward achieving one’s own goals. (Which is why some people may feel that psychopaths are the e- word.)