<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Apathy is a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, and concern about something of great importance . Apathy is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation, or passion . An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical, or physical life and the world . </P> <P> The apathetic may lack a sense of purpose, worth, or meaning in their life . An apathetic person may also exhibit insensibility or sluggishness . In positive psychology, apathy is described as a result of the individuals feeling they do not possess the level of skill required to confront a challenge (i.e. "flow"). It may also be a result of perceiving no challenge at all (e.g. the challenge is irrelevant to them, or conversely, they have learned helplessness). Apathy may be a sign of more specific mental problems such as schizophrenia or dementia . However, apathy is something that all people face in some capacity . It is a natural response to disappointment, dejection, and stress . As a response, apathy is a way to forget about these negative feelings . This type of common apathy is usually only felt in the short - term and when it becomes a long - term or even lifelong state is when deeper social and psychological issues are most likely present . </P>

Knowing about but not caring about the suffering of others is called