I think that being a sociopath and practicing empathy are not mutually exclusive (although I understand that in your case or most cases, empathy probably drives away the sociopathic tendencies). From what I understand, empathy is merely the notion of understanding perspectives other than your own. A sociopath who holds contempt toward a point of view could possibly benefit herself by practicing empathy. Empathy just another means of obtaining information about the world around you.
My point is obfuscated by the fact in many contexts the word "empathy" and "empath" are intended to involve not only the person practicing empathy, but also the interaction with the person to be understood.
What it boils down to is that you can understand what people are feeling and still decide to disregard them.
You are right. Empathy and sociopathy, though both rather ill defined, do not sit at opposite ends of the same spectrum.
As a child, I was highly empathetic, caring, and frequently overwhelmed by others’ emotions. As an adolescent, I did a face-heel turn and became very manipulative, frequently lying, gaslighting, and emotionally abusing others.
But now it’s the positive aspects of both; I don’t feel emotions very strongly but am quite empathetic toward others, accommodating their needs with perceptive and manipulative skills honed by an adolescence of (frankly) sociopathy.
Being entirely self-serving gets old, actually. There’s not really any challenge in picking pockets or getting laid.
My point is obfuscated by the fact in many contexts the word "empathy" and "empath" are intended to involve not only the person practicing empathy, but also the interaction with the person to be understood.
What it boils down to is that you can understand what people are feeling and still decide to disregard them.