Sheldon Cooper’s meanness, selfishness, and lack of empathy are apparent throughout both the Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. While with any other TV character, these traits would be unlikable, with Sheldon, they make him one of the most lovable and popular characters in the series.

Sheldon often comes across as uncaring with his snide remarks, condescending attitude, and unchanging ways. But deep down, he is a kind and gentle person who just has difficulty showing that he cares in today’s social setting.

While such moments might be few and far between in the Big Bang Theory, they reveal that Sheldon is, in fact, empathetic and caring. Sheldon has always been a shoulder for his friends to lean on whenever they need advice or help with any problem.

Most notably, Sheldon has always been there to advise and encourage his roommate Leonard in matters of science and his courtship of Penny, and, that one time when Penny almost broke up with Leonard, he advised her not to hurt his friend's feelings.

In the following, we look at moments when Sheldon's empathetic side is fully displayed in the Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon and how Jim Parsons' Big Bang Theory character changed by the end of the series.

Sheldon's Lack Of Empathy Shapes His Personality

Fans have come to love Sheldon for his uniqueness, even though he can be harsh. Unlike his friends, Sheldon rarely shows how much he cares for those around him openly and is often cold when he needs to be empathetic.

However, his lack of empathy and rude remarks make him a great character in the Big Bang Theory. Sheldon's rigid, unemotional, and unchanging nature makes him stand out among his lovable friends, Howard, Leonard, and Raj. While they are emotional and caring, Sheldon, in contrast, is self-absorbed and cares little about how his actions and feelings affect those around him.

Sheldon Cooper holds grudges for years and causes tantrums when anyone even thinks of sitting in his favorite spot on the couch. But those moments, like when he is guarding his favorite seat and feuding with his rival Wil Wheaton, make for some of the funniest scenes in the Big Bang Theory.

Sheldon's lack of empathy showcases him as a selfish and often mean person to everyone he deems unworthy. He doesn't think Leonard's work or his friends' professions are as important as his and bluntly tells them to their faces.

Sheldon has often insulted Penny's intelligence, referring to her as a dumb blonde. He also looks down on her dreams of becoming an actress because, according to him, it is not as prestigious as working in the scientific field. Sheldon was no different when it came to his family. In season 8 of The Big Bang Theory, when Sheldon was applying to travel to Mars, he got too personal in his interview, throwing his brother Georgie under the bus.

"I graduated from college at 14. While my brother was getting an STD, I was getting a PhD, something penicillin can't take away."

There Have Been Several Times Sheldon Has Shown He Has Empathy

From the first season of the Big Bang Theory, you could tell that Sheldon was selfish and self-absorbed, not caring about what was going on in his friend's lives. However, as the seasons went on, Sheldon quickly changed for the better and became more empathetic.

• When Leonard got a job that had him leaving the country for a period, instead of being condescending or mean, Sheldon made a toast to his friend, wishing him well and saying good things about him.
• In season 3, episode 11, 'The Maternal Congruence,' Leonard finds out his parents are divorced, his dog died, and Sheldon has been talking to Leonard's mom much more than he was. Knowing Leonard needed support at this trying time, Sheldon went to sit with him in his room as a good friend would.
• When Penny was going through a hard time financially and almost got kicked out of her apartment, Sheldon helped her out. In season 2, episode 14, 'The Financial Permeability,' Sheldon gives Penny money to pay her rent and fix her apartment and tells her to pay it back when she can. Fans would have expected Sheldon to only give Penny the loan under strict terms, but he lent her the money and urged her to pay it back only after she had gotten back on her feet.
• In season 7, episode 11 of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon travels back to Texas to help out with Missy giving birth, as her husband was in a bad motorcycle accident.

Even as a child, despite being known as cold to his family, there are several instances he has shown he cares for them. During season 6 of Young Sheldon, Sheldon genuinely worries about his twin sister, Missy, and although he gets her in trouble by telling on her - his heart was in the right place. He tells her, during season 6, episode 21...

"I realize we have our differences, but I would never be able to forgive myself if anything bad happened to you."

And in Young Sheldon season 7, when his grandmother (Meemaw) needed him, he put her first before everything else. Meemaw gets into trouble after engaging in illegal activities. Because she has always been supportive and understanding of him, Sheldon begins studying law to become the best lawyer to represent Meemaw and help her escape jail time.

Sheldon's Character Completely Changed By The End Of The Big Bang Theory

In the first season of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon became known as the group's intelligent but most selfish and rude friend. He would often talk down to his friends and ridicule them for not thinking things through like he does. Sheldon was also very rigid and unwilling to change his life, and even when he started dating Amy, it was hard for her to fit into his self-absorbed lifestyle. However, Sheldon's character had changed entirely by the show's end.

One moment that proves this was when Sheldon won the Nobel Peace Prize for his theory on super-asymmetry. He was offered the prestigious award but insisted he would only receive the prize with his wife Amy. He did this because he developed the super asymmetry theory with Amy's help on their wedding day. Surprisingly, Sheldon thanked his brother, sister, mother, and father during his winning speech instead of making it all about his intelligence.

Cooper also gave his friends the recognition they deserved for supporting him throughout his career and called them family, something that even they were not expecting. In season 8, episode 15, Howard's mother passes away, and everyone sits with him to comfort him. In such a moment, Leonard feared Sheldon would say something insensitive, but when he spoke, he was very supportive of Howard.

"When my father died, I had no friends to help me through it, but you do."

There are also several moments when Sheldon prepares a hot beverage for his friends when they come to him with a problem. While Sheldon would be blunt with his advice, he always made sure to give his friends a hot drink to make them feel a little better. These moments prove that he was always empathetic and uniquely showed his love for his friends.