What term describes indifference or lack of emotion?

The term that describes indifference or lack of emotion is apathy. Apathy refers to a state where an individual shows little or no interest, enthusiasm, or concern about something. This can manifest in various ways, such as a lack of motivation or a detachment from emotional responses that typically influence behavior and decision-making.

In contrast, compassion, empathy, and sympathy all involve emotional connections and responses towards the feelings of others. Compassion is characterized by a deep awareness of another's suffering and a desire to alleviate it. Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, creating an emotional resonance with their experiences. Sympathy, while similar to empathy, involves feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune but does not necessarily include the sharing of their emotional experience. Therefore, these three concepts are rooted in emotional engagement, making apathy the distinct term that signifies a lack of such responses.