Who started this?
Highschool level psych 101 classes. Its an easy distinction to teach kids about psychopathy/sociopathy but reality can be a little more nuanced. I also imagine that counseling is about treating emotionally damaged people with the idea they can improve mentally not instantly judging them 'oh well youre an unfeeling psychopath monster and always will be because you didn't have empathy for this person in this situation'
Wouldn't that just be sympathy?
Trivial distinction. they recognize someone is hurting. who started this whole symp/emp divide? it literally never comes up in counseling school