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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Empathy vs Sympathy
#19284927 - 12/16/13 04:45 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I've always tried to be empathetic towards others and never really gave sympathy any thought as it was basically the same, or so I thought. I recently heard the term used and got to thinking about it, and realized it's not really the same as empathy and that It could be considered worse than empathy. Come to think of it, the two are very different from each other. One is feeling pity for someones misfortune, safely, from a distance. The other is putting yourself in their shoes and truly understanding their pain, and sharing their feelings.
One is almost condescending, looking down on them. Helping you feel better about your own situation, keeping you at a safe distance where you don't really have to use much effort and are not really forming any true connection. The other is quite the opposite in that you put yourself in their situation and dig up emotions from your past so that you too may share in their pain and connect with them on a deeper level.
I've never really given it thought until now about how different the two really are. Thinking about it further, I realize my stance on sympathy is a bit extreme, especially if you yourself don't have the experience to empathize with someone in a certain situation, but it helps get the point across. What are you're thoughts on the two?
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Icyus
KavitārkikasiṃHa



Registered: 11/07/13
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I find sympathy a cultural thing to be expected, atleast where I am from.. thoguh empathy seem nonexistent..
they are what they are.
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XUL
OTD Janitor



Registered: 03/16/05
Posts: 28,261
Loc: America
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Quote:
A Day InThe Life said: I've always tried to be empathetic towards others and never really gave sympathy any thought as it was basically the same, or so I thought. I recently heard the term used and got to thinking about it, and realized it's not really the same as empathy and that It could be considered worse than empathy. Come to think of it, the two are very different from each other. One is feeling pity for someones misfortune, safely, from a distance. The other is putting yourself in their shoes and truly understanding their pain, and sharing their feelings.
One is almost condescending, looking down on them. Helping you feel better about your own situation, keeping you at a safe distance where you don't really have to use much effort and are not really forming any true connection. The other is quite the opposite in that you put yourself in their situation and dig up emotions from your past so that you too may share in their pain and connect with them on a deeper level.
I've never really given it thought until now about how different the two really are. Thinking about it further, I realize my stance on sympathy is a bit extreme, especially if you yourself don't have the experience to empathize with someone in a certain situation, but it helps get the point across. What are you're thoughts on the two?
It sounds like you differentiated the two in your head.
I think empathy is one of the most important aspects of relationships. Without empathy interpersonal communication can tend to be black and white; biased.
I think sympathy can be an important role in our lives. I believe we experience sympathy when as a bystander we stop to help someone who is hurt. In doing so I feel we are avoiding bystander apathy.
It seems to me that the definitions of sympathy and empathy overlap. The English language can be used so loosely.
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


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Re: Empathy vs Sympathy [Re: XUL]
#19285066 - 12/16/13 05:12 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I think that the difference is that empathy requires an acceptance of equality with the sufferer, hence the expression "there but by the grace of zappa go I" whereas sympathy implies a superior position of the holder, "oh that poor shmuck, how sad". Or in the words of that wise old sage Mr T "I pity the fool."
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myc_check1212
Through Brass



Registered: 05/18/09
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Re: Empathy vs Sympathy [Re: zappaisgod]
#19285110 - 12/16/13 05:22 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'd post back, but Mr.T ain't got no time for jibba jabber
-------------------- Lord_Senate: Pedophiles, rapists and everything in between. pastywhyte said: I'm not going to rush, I believe crow is best served cold. AhabMcBathsalts said: This is why democracy doesn't work. Because idiots like this get a fucking vote.
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XUL
OTD Janitor



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Re: Empathy vs Sympathy [Re: zappaisgod]
#19285126 - 12/16/13 05:25 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
zappaisgod said: I think that the difference is that empathy requires an acceptance of equality with the sufferer, hence the expression "there but by the grace of zappa go I" whereas sympathy implies a superior position of the holder, "oh that poor shmuck, how sad". Or in the words of that wise old sage Mr T "I pity the fool."
I agree.
But if you look at dictionary.com they will list definitions like this:
Quote:
the harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons of like tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.
But essentially your differentiation seems to be the most common way to decipher between the two words.
Good shit.
Edited by XUL (12/16/13 05:25 PM)
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Magicman69
All About the Benjamins



Registered: 05/29/13
Posts: 6,876
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Re: Empathy vs Sympathy [Re: XUL]
#19285166 - 12/16/13 05:36 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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To me empathy is a feeling while sympathy is a thought. For instance if I take ecstasy I'm overwhelmed by empathy, a feeling of concern love and understanding for others. Sympathy for me is a thought like 'man that's messed up how this or that happened, I wish I could help'
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Magicman69
All About the Benjamins



Registered: 05/29/13
Posts: 6,876
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Re: Empathy vs Sympathy [Re: Magicman69]
#19285171 - 12/16/13 05:38 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm sympathetic to your situation. Hinting at a understanding that his situation is unfair. You wouldn't say I'm empathetic towards your situation
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Patlal
You ask too many questions



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Re: Empathy vs Sympathy [Re: Magicman69]
#19285185 - 12/16/13 05:41 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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So basically:
Sympathy: I'm sorry for what happened to you
Empathy: I know what it feels like
???
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nicechrisman
Interdimensional space wizard



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-------------------- "Cosmic Love is absolutelely ruthless and highly indifferent: it teaches its lessons whether you like/dislike them or not." John C. Lily
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Dawks
Jolly African Potato


Registered: 06/09/10
Posts: 4,935
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Quote:
A Day InThe Life said: Empathy vs Sympathy, tl;dr
Empathy is when a person feels another persons emotions. If you see someone feeling bad you feel bad, if you see someone feeling happy you feel happy.
When a normal person hurts someone, it's hurts them too. When an evil person hurts someone it doesn't hurt them hence evil is said to be "a lack of empathy."
Sympathy on the other hand is similar, but more abstract. Empathy happens in the present. If you see someone suffering, you suffer, etc. Sympathy is more of an understanding of why a person feels the way they do.
For instance,
Guy1: "My brother is totally broke" Guy2: "Yeah I can totally sympathize, I had no money when I left college"
Think of sympathy is "understanding how another feels" whereas empathy is "feeling what another feels"
Sympathy can be abstract, you can sympathize with people in the past or future - you can sympathize with fictional characters even. Empathy is more situational - someone being bullied makes you want to lash out at the bullies, even though they're not directly bullying you.
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