Empathy is a learned skill, much like language, we are hard wired to be able to do it but it has to be worked on and a lot of that work has to be done in childh

Empathy is a learned skill, much like language, we are hard wired to be able to do it but it has to be worked on and a lot of that work has to be done in childhood. A lot of people are not loved in childhood, this may be due to a poor or a rich background. Being sent to boarding school far away from home or having a single mum on crack can result in a child not learning about love. The result is narcissism and those cursed with narcissism can do a convincing job when it suits them of emulating empathy. They might care about those around them when it means they have something to gain, but this is exploitative caring, not what passes for normal emotion for most people who grew up with parents that loved them. Narcissists do love power and money. Therefore there is a tendency for them to want to rule the world, be boss of the company or to acquire more wealth than might make sense. We all have a certain amount of narcissism in us, normally this is in check and not a crippling disease, as per the seriously unloved-as-a-child brigade. This study appeals to this innate narcissism, and, we can all be manipulated into being 'good Germans' or 'Christian saints'. There are many situations - e.g. being President - where mere mortals have no interest in the job. To wear the crown and have the power naturally horrifies. This does not mean we just want to be lead, but there is an aspect of this. As a society we are generally good about making sure chronic alcoholics don't rule the roost but we expect everyone to take part in a drink in social situations. We can spot when someone likes the bottle a bit too much and deal with it. Narcissism is a bit more tricky as the beyond-the-pale selfish narcissist has the skills to feign empathy until they get the power they crave. Then it is too late and we wonder how such a cruel, selfish person got that way. Or maybe we are still under their spell and imagine they 'think like us' and care. For the benefit of humanity we need to have simple tests to identify those with overly narcissistic tendencies and not let them into positions of power such as being president. A 'breathalyser test' for the mind.