Sympathy, Empathy and Compassion, the three significant emotional levels
John Victor Shokralla
?? Head of L&D @ BIG | ??Talent Developer | ?? Instructional Designer | ??Mechanical Engineer | ?? 3D Printing hobbyist
Sympathy, empathy, and compassion are three important emotional responses that are often confused with one another. Although these three terms are closely related, they are distinct emotions that have different meanings and implications in human interactions. Understanding the difference between them can help individuals develop stronger emotional intelligence and become better at relating to others.
Sympathy is an emotional response that arises when one person feels sorry for another person's situation or predicament. It is a feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's suffering, without necessarily understanding or experiencing that suffering oneself. Sympathy is a basic human emotion that allows people to connect with one another and show concern and care for others. However, sympathy can also be a passive emotion that doesn't necessarily lead to action or engagement with the person who is suffering.
Empathy, on the other hand, is an emotional response that arises when one person feels what another person is feeling. It is a deeper emotional connection that involves understanding and sharing in the emotions of another person. Empathy requires the ability to put oneself in another person's shoes and imagine how they might be feeling. Empathy is a powerful emotion that can help individuals connect with others on a deeper level and build stronger relationships. It can also be a catalyst for action, as individuals who are empathetic are often motivated to help others in need.
Finally, compassion is an emotional response that combines both sympathy and empathy, with the added element of a desire to alleviate suffering. Compassion involves feeling for someone who is suffering, understanding their emotions, and wanting to take action to help them. Compassion requires empathy and sympathy, as well as the willingness to take action to help others. Compassion is an active emotion that requires individuals to engage with others who are suffering and take steps to alleviate their pain.
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In summary, sympathy, empathy, and compassion are three levels of emotional responses that individuals can use to connect with others and show care and concern. Sympathy is a feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's suffering, empathy is the ability to feel what another person is feeling, and compassion is the combination of both sympathy and empathy with a desire to alleviate suffering. Understanding these three emotions and how they differ can help individuals develop stronger emotional intelligence and become more effective at relating to others.
Did you experience at any time any one of these levels while interacting with others?
References
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Compassion
Sr. Specialist, Quantity Surveying and Project Controls (Cost Management | Procurement Management | Commercial Management | Contract Management | Contract Administration)
2 个月A great article