ickekänsliga

Ickekänsliga is a colloquial Swedish term used to describe a person who appears emotionally unresponsive or indifferent to others' feelings. It denotes behavioral insensitivity rather than a formal diagnosis.

The word combines icke- meaning "not" with känslig meaning "sensitive," yielding "not sensitive." It is predominantly used in everyday speech and informal writing, with spellings such as icke-känslig or ickekänslig.

In public and media discourse, the term is applied to individuals—politicians, celebrities, or peers—who seem unconcerned by others' distress or who dismiss criticism as exaggerated or overly sensitive. It often carries a negative connotation, functioning as a social critique or insult.

The expression is non-clinical and should not be equated with psychological conditions such as alexithymia, antisocial personality traits, or psychopathy, though some debates call it a lay approximation of empathy deficits. Critics note that labeling someone ickekänsliga can oversimplify emotions and may stigmatize discussions of mental health or sensitivity.

Related concepts include insensitivity, lack of empathy, and emotional detachment. The term reflects ongoing conversations about moral feeling, social reciprocity, and the tone of contemporary public discourse.