Lack of empathy towards lower class

[Discussion]

I was looking up things about empathy this morning. And I came across this https://raybwilliams.medium.com/does-emotional-intelligence-eq-empathy-and-compassion-decline-among-the-wealthy-d3694a98e97f#:~:text=In%20multiple%20trials%20that%20involved,who%20came%20from%20affluent%20backgrounds.

Seems to say empathy and compassion declines among wealthy .

I do think wealth and class look down and there's a lack of empathy towards lower classes and poorer people.

Sometimes people have more money than sense.

It does go both ways. Empathy is generally lacking though, and I include myself in that. I wish, for example, that I had more empathy for the submarine people. I didn't - except for the young man who didn't really want to be there.

Sometimes people have more money than sense.

And sometimes people have little money and even less sense.

Empathy doesn’t come from class.

As an aside. I've recently visited both Port Sunlight and Saltaire. Both small towns built by mill/factory owners to house their workers. Decent housing, sport and arts facilities. They're beautiful places.
Can you imagine any modern day tycoon doing that. Amazon workers have appalling conditions and their boss would rather spend money on spaceships.

I think you’re right OP there was a recent opinion piece in the Guardian on it that drew from a survey of all Britains regarding what benefits recipients should be able to afford.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/08/britain-poor-people-leisure-victorian-workhouse

“The survey shows that 76% of Britons believe that everyone should be able to afford their utility bills, while 74% think they should have the means to eat a balanced diet – in effect, meaning that around a quarter of the public believe that people on out-of-work benefits shouldn’t be able to have electricity or a full complement of vitamins.”

I have known a lot of people who don’t seem to grasp that their upbringing has afforded them huge advantages over other people. That having a stable upbringing, parents who have always helped and encouraged, who know people who can help with work experience, pay towards university is a huge privilege that not everyone has.

These type of people will always think they have got where they are through hard work, which may be partly true, but they do t see the full picture.

I agree with @Charlotteowensdodgydad . I don't think it's class thing at all- more a personality thing and lack of empathy is to be found across all classes and income levels. There are an awful lot of I'm all right jacks across all income levels and classes. Thatcher was known for saying 'no such thing as society, only the individual' and what we have now are Thatchers children's, children. The US has always been a bit this way but I truly believe we actually now have many of the worst aspects of the US and none of the better aspects.