Similarly, I get a bit of cringe from my team in BG3 because they also lack empathy. I feel like I am walking around with a bunch of narcissists, which totally voids any emotional investment I may have in them. Hope that improves as we get to know them more later in game. Fingers crossed.
They do have empathy (well, except Astarion, that guy is classic sociopath), they are just not really good people. Every companion (except Lae'Zel, she is the only honest and straighforward companion in EA) in BG3 is trying to manipulate you and lies to you, but they do it in a way normal people usually do it in the real life. They have huge skeletons in their closets, so it makes sense for them to open up and confess their deceptions and manipulations only when they get to know you more and learn to trust you.
