Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : Objectives: The aim of this paper is to highlight some conceptual difficulties related to the notions of empathy and sympathy in the field of psychopathology. Methods: Starting from a definition of these concepts inherited from Max Scheler, we study three diagnostics: the pervert, the psychopath, and the schizophrenic. Results: Each of these diagnostic entities is characterized by specific modalities of adherence to the social world revealed by an in-depth analysis of empathy and sympathy. Discussion: While the psychopath and the pervert appear to be empathic (but have a different relationship to sympathy), the schizophrenic presents an empathic deficit while preserving a sympathetic consideration of others necessary to identify in a therapeutic context. Conclusions: Taking phenomenological psychopathology and the social world into account is instructive and provides clarifications about the psychological functioning of the three figures studied.