2006-09-13 05:34:28 · 2 answers · asked by laffina 2 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Whereas sympathy is more like "feeling bad for someone / feeling benevolent emotions towards them," empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and imagine what it would like to be them in that situation.
You imagine that you feel the way they do, understand the choices they're forced with, and what things they are wrestling over in their position.
It's sort of a mix of emotion, imagination, and thinking working together and is experienced on all those levels.
[I remember when 9/11 occurred, I had a few rough days because I could empathize too much with everyone who was hurting -- I couldn't keep from imagining myself in their situation and experiencing and feeling what I imagined they were.]
"Intellectual closeminded" isn't quite the opposite, since it just involves the intellect, but it's basically not being open to new ideas and not being willing to entertain anyone else's perspective.
(You probably know people like this -- whether it's religious beliefs, or political beliefs, or whatever. They simply refuse to accept new information or logically see where the new information goes.]
And iIf you are being intellectually closeminded to someone, you cannot empathize with them.
2006-09-13 09:41:21 · answer #1 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well just a matter of where you decide to take your imagination. Whether your a selfish and insensitive or a caring individual.
2006-09-13 05:52:42 · answer #2 · answered by the holy divine one 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋