Indifference can be associated with a lack of empathy.
Indifference , from the Latin indifferentĭa , is the state of mind in which a person does not feel inclination or rejection towards another subject, an object or a specific matter . It can be a feeling or a position towards someone or something that is characterized by being positive or negative.
For example: "I don't hate football, it just makes me indifferent," "Some things make me angry but this, the truth is, only makes me indifferent," "The indifference of a large part of society to the pain of others is disgusting."
Indifference, therefore, is an intermediate point between appreciation and contempt . If someone feels appreciation, that feeling will be pleasant and active; On the other hand, if you feel contempt, it will become something that you intend to reject. By showing indifference, the subject becomes apathetic about it.
Indifference as a problem
Regarding certain issues, indifference is seen as a psychological or social problem . There are cases in which the indifferent person can be accused of being insensitive or cold, as if his emotions or feelings were anesthetized.
If a man walks down the street, passes an injured child, and instead of stopping, continues on his indifferent path, he will most likely be socially condemned. As part of the human community, people are expected to have empathy and be able to show solidarity when someone requires help.
Indifference can arise from disinterest or be a reflection of selfishness.
Defense mechanism
However, it is important to know that, on many occasions, indifference is not synonymous with coldness but simply with special sensitivity. It may seem like a contradiction but it is not. And many very sensitive and fragile people choose to use indifference as a shield to protect themselves and avoid being hurt.
Specifically, experts in human psychology study this issue in depth and reach the following conclusions:
• Indifference is used by individuals with a strong and marked self-defensive character who find it the perfect way to avoid being belittled, ignored, hurt or questioned.
• In these cases, what occurs is that the person in question isolates himself from the rest and makes his social relationships difficult.
• It is also used by people who are very afraid of pain and suffering as well as who need affection but hide it so as not to be disappointed and to avoid that, when they open their heart, they may be hurt by rejection, lies or infidelity
• It is especially interesting to highlight that among the many people who use indifference as a shield is a high percentage of adolescents. And they consider that it helps them become stronger in their relationships with others and even with their families.
In this sense, for some philosophers, indifference is the denial of Being since it implies the absence of beliefs and motivations. Those who are indifferent do not feel or act, remaining aloof.
To all this we should add the existence of a significant number of publications that revolve around indifference. This would be the case, for example, of "The indifference of an instant", by PP Zaga.