Sympathy and empathy what is the difference

There is someone in there, drowning. If you were to show them sympathy, you would involve yourself, telling them about a time when you were also drowning. You express sympathy. If you were to share empathy, think of yourself as throwing them a life-ring. You are understanding their problem and accepting that it is an issue for them, but not making the situation about you.

You stand outside of the issue as a source of comfort. Expressing sympathy creates a divide between you and the other person- that you are lucky, you have come past the problem, but they are unlucky and still struggling. Empathy occurs in the here and now. This enables you to be helpful instead of getting caught up in the issue. Advice is an enemy of empathy in some cases- you want to stay in their world, not make yourself feel better. In medicine, not showing empathy means we would never truly understand our patients and their motivations.

Sympathy alienates patients and makes the doctor-patient relationship one-sided, unfriendly and less trustworthy. A patient who is shown empathy is more likely to feel emotionally connected to their doctor, and this helps them to improve their health.

A patient who feels understood is more likely to disclose important information that would entirely change a diagnosis or treatment. You can show empathy by reflecting the tone and language the other person is using. Empathy allows us to treat our patients with compassion, fostering strong relationships that are mutually beneficial for the patient and the doctor.

It requires listening, kindness and time taken to truly understand the whole patient and their life. It enables our patients to feel supported and understood during some of the most stressful periods in their lives.

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If this cookie does not exist when HubSpot manages cookies, it is considered a new session. The suffix -pathy comes from the Greek word for "suffering," pathos. The U. Similarly, mental health professionals find social connections critically important to the ways that people cope with and overcome suffering, grief, and trauma.

Words like sympathy , empathy , and even apathy describe the nuanced differences between the very complex social connections and reactions humans display when we are suffering or when we witness others in pain. While subtle behavioral differences might seem obvious to therapists, counselors, and psychologists, it's not so easy for everyone else. Sultanoff, Ph. Thiessen, Ph. While often well intentioned, this value-judgment-centered response often creates a palpable distance between the person in pain and the person who is listening.

So, Zaman says, sympathy is often extended when a person doesn't necessarily relate to, fully comprehend, or appreciate the circumstances of suffering facing someone they know or love. Sympathy lacks understanding," Sultanoff adds.

This, for the most part, does not demonstrate any understanding of the person in distress. He notes that sympathy can create a barrier to understanding that can be activated because a sympathetic person may shift focus away from the person in distress to focus on themselves instead. Sympathy is the emotional reaction of the listener, who might say things like "I feel so sorry that this is happening to you," or "I get so angry just listening to your story.

It is not just to understand what they are going through but rather, being able to walk in the other person's shoes," Zaman explains. She adds that empathy is best defined by how the listener connects with the person in pain.

Without judgment, an empathetic person would try to create and hold space for a person's feelings and experiences. Empathy, which can be taught and honed over time , involves honoring how a person in pain sees their own situation, even if that is not how others might view it. When it comes to understanding the key differences between empathy and sympathy, there are both internal and external factors to keep in mind.

Sympathy and empathy are largely distinguished by external behavioral and performative aspects, which most people believe are a reflection of how the listener internally feels about the person who is suffering. Instead, the experts say that the difference is more about the relationship between the listener and the sufferer. Rather than just feeling bad for the other person, showing empathy involves sharing their feelings. You can have empathy noun for someone or you can empathize verb with them.

Review some powerful examples of empathy statements to help further illustrate this concept. To put it another way, empathy vs. To understand how to get across the idea of sympathy and empathy, take a look at these examples of the words used in sentences. Check your understanding of the difference between sympathy and empathy with these practice exercises. Complete each of the sentences below with the word sympathy or empathy, making the correct choice based on what each word means.

Expand your ability to express emotional concepts by getting familiar with some of the many adjectives that describe feelings and emotions. All rights reserved. What's the Difference Between Sympathy and Empathy? Different Definitions: Sympathy vs. Empathy While the words sympathy and empathy both describe feelings, their meanings are quite different. Sympathy Meaning Sympathy involves feelings of compassion, sorrow, sadness, or pity for another person or other people who are facing difficult circumstances.

By listening fully to what they have to say, you help them feel heard and supported. As a result, this coworker is now better able to focus afterward. What helped me was to take melatonin every night. It works like magic. Instead of focusing on the other person, you redirected the conversation to be about you. Compassion and empathy are often used interchangeably. But you become a spectator of these feelings so that you can manage an appropriate response.

Because of this, you can provide them with the help they need. It requires altruism to be able to do this. Apathy is a lack of care or motivation. Schedule a demo today to see how BetterUp can help you develop emotional intelligence and reach your career potential. Unlock your best self with mental fitness routines with Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir. Follow us. July 9, - 16 min read. Share this article. Jump to section What is the main difference between empathy and sympathy?

Empathy vs sympathy psychology Which is better: sympathy or empathy?