Definition of suicidal empathy
- empathy that becomes maladaptive when extended indiscriminately or excessively, leading to decisions that prioritize short-term emotional relief for others over long-term self-preservation or societal well-being
Usage examples of suicidal empathy
Council member called for an end to suicidal empathy after a grandmother was attacked by a career criminal who had once again been released on his own recognizance.
A victim advocate called the governor’s decision to release a violent offender early, despite the clear risks to the public, a stark illustration of suicidal empathy.
“Soft-on-crime measures that treat repeat offenders primarily as victims of circumstance are nothing but suicidal empathy,” the author claims in his op-ed.