Sympathy is understanding someone’s emotions and empathy is feeling them.
Empathy and sympathy are both responses to another person’s emotions.
However, sympathy involves understanding someones emotions fromourperspective, and empathy involves feeling their emotions fromtheirperspective.
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Sympathy vs.
The main difference between sympathy and empathy is how we express and experience our emotions toward someones situation.
In other words, you aren’t putting yourself in their position and imagining yourself struggling with their situation.
Therefore, it is possible to have sympathy but not empathy.
Surface vs.
Deep Level Understanding
When we sympathize with someone’s unfortunate situation, we feel bad for them.
When we practice empathy, we dive into the depth of their emotions and envision ourselves in their situation.
Fun Fact: Where Did These Words Originate?
Pathos refers to emotions, feelings, or passion."
Empathy allows a person to explore another person’s thoughts and feelings, which helps them remove judgment.
Its going to be hard on my nephew.
He’s going grow up in a broken home."
An empathetic response would be, “Let me know if you want to talk about it.
Ill be here for you through it all.”
Unsolicited Advice vs. Wesuppress our own emotions.
When we empathize with a close one, we connect deeply to their experience.
Which Is BetterEmpathy or Sympathy?
Neither empathy nor sympathy is inherently better; they serve different purposes depending on the context and situation.
The truth is that we need both for emotional and mental well-being.
When to Show Empathy
Empathy is essential for building deep andmeaningful relationshipswith others.
If someone needs to be understood, use empathy.
Your energy becomes depleted, and you may feel numb, burnt out, powerless, and less compassionate.
You are at an increased risk of empathic distress.
Sympathy allows us to learn and stay informed about global issues without being emotionally consumed.
In situations where you need tomaintain emotional boundaries, use sympathy.
Are Compassion and Empathy the Same Thing?
Compassionand empathy is also terms that are often used interchangeably.
You want to help relieve their pain and suffering because you truly empathize with their situation.
For instance, your friend is going through cancer treatment.
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Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Whats the difference between sympathy and empathy?
2024;24(1):780. doi:10.1186/s12888-024-06217-w
