Apathy

[DISCLAIMER]

As he hails from Connecticut, one of the underground hip hop lyricists whose content I’ve appreciated since 2006 goes by the stage name Apathy (formerly The Alien Tongue). Before learning of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I knew little about his namesake.

I simply thought it was synonymous with indifference (the quality, state, or fact of being indifferent—a marked by a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern for something). Yet, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), apathy is thusly defined:

[L]ack of motivation or goal-directed behavior and indifference to one’s surroundings. Apathy is commonly associated with severe depression or schizophrenia, but it also is a major behavioral symptom in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Essentially, apathy relates to indifference, though the term has a connotation in regard to clinical diagnoses. Noteworthy, the aforementioned definition of indifference references the matter of “interest.” According to the APA, this term is thusly defined:

[A]n attitude characterized by a need or desire to give selective attention to something that is significant to the individual, such as an activity, goal, or research area.

Notably, pertaining to the practice of REBT, I stated in a blogpost entitled Interests and Goals, “Whereas an interest may defined as the state of wanting to learn about something, a goal is the end toward which effort is directed.” Still, one who is apathetic may not maintain interests.

Therefore, without interest from which goals stem, a person experiencing apathy may lack desire (a form of craving in relation to pleasure derived from possessing something such as the ability to improve one’s own level of functioning and quality of life). Of note, one source adds:

Apathy, also referred to as indifference, is a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, and/or concern about something. It is a state of indifference, and/or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation, or passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical, virtual, or physical life and the world.

Apathy can also be defined as a person’s lack of goal orientation. Apathy falls in the less extreme spectrum of diminished motivation, with abulia in the middle and akinetic mutism being more extreme than both apathy and abulia.

The apathetic may lack a sense of purpose, worth, or meaning in their life. People with severe apathy tend to have a lower quality of life and are at a higher risk for mortality and early institutionalization. They may also exhibit insensibility or sluggishness.

Without an interest (i.e., desire) to form a goal (i.e., the end toward which effort is directed), an apathetic person may further lack motivation (a person’s willingness to exert physical or mental effort in pursuit of a goal or outcome) to practice REBT on a daily basis, as I recommend.

Thus, working with the apathetic may begin with exploration of purpose (i.e., what one does) and meaning (i.e., worth derived from fulfilment of one’s purpose). Still, as one source states, “There’s no go-to treatment for apathy,” as some people are simply indifferent toward REBT.

I understand the unpleasantness associated with one’s beliefs when discovering that a professional provider of care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) admits there’s no guaranteed intervention for indifference or apathy. I get it.

Nevertheless, apathy can be a significant limiting factor for a person’s improvement with mental health symptoms. Early on, this is why I assess purpose and meaning, interests and goals, and whether or not an individual is apathetic or indifferent to getting better—or even feeling better.

Without the desire to improve, the apathetic may experience unfavorably poor mental health outcomes. In closing, if you’re enduring apathy, then I invite you to concentrate on what it is you may want (within reason) and what you believe it would take to acquire that outcome.

If you can’t come up with anything, or you simply don’t care enough about yourself or improvement of your life in the first place, then it may be time for you to seek professional help. Still, if you reach out to me, then be prepared for me not to do most of the work for you.

This is because my approach to well-being necessitates that you take personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”) for your own life. I’m only here to try to help. Yet, I can’t (and won’t) do for you what you can do for yourself when taking ownership of your life.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

References:

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Apathy. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/apathy

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Interest. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/interest

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Motivation. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/motivation

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Suppression. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/suppression

Apathy. (2024, April 11). Connecticut Formal [Image]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/KjHl8u3pn8w?si=4hzmlkFGyoffrVJH

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 16). Apathy. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24824-apathy

Hollings, D. (2025, December 1). A diagnosis is a form of hypothesis. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-diagnosis-is-a-form-of-hypothesis

Hollings, D. (2026, February 5). A matter of concern: Loss of a new start. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-matter-of-concern-loss-of-a-new-start

Hollings, D. (2025, June 17). Daily practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/daily-practice

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Hollings, D. (2026, February 8). Is It Desire, or Is It Love? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/is-it-desire-or-is-it-love

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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2025, November 29). Meaning through work. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/meaning-through-work

Hollings, D. (2022, June 23). Meaningful purpose. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/meaningful-purpose

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

Hollings, D. (2025, November 16). Mental health, mental illness, and mental disorder. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-health-mental-illness-and-mental-disorder

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

Hollings, D. (2022, November 7). Personal ownership. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-ownership

Hollings, D. (2025, September 9). Personal responsibility and accountability. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-responsibility-and-accountability

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Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Recommendatory should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/recommendatory-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

Hollings, D. (2025, August 3). Self-esteem and self-worth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-esteem-and-self-worth

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, September 29). Well, well, well. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/well-well-well

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Abulia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abulia

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Akinetic mutism. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akinetic_mutism

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Apathy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Apathy (rapper). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy_(rapper)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Disorders of diminished motivation. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disorders_of_diminished_motivation

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Eastern Philosophy (album). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Philosophy_(album)