How can you know what other person feels? And how can you know that you know?
Isn't it extremely arrogant to think you can put yourself in someone else's shoes based on theoretical knowledge or on "similar" (by your reckoning) experiences?
2007-01-14 13:40:59 · 11 answers · asked by tlakkamond 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Empathy is what makes us human and enables us to relate to one another. It isn't arrogant if you realize that you can never truly know what someone else is feeling. But you can always try and put yourself in another person's place and know how you would feel if it were you. Also, you can always ask the person how they are feeling as well.
2007-01-14 13:46:07 · answer #1 · answered by ambr123 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Empathy is very possible. Empathy is just the ability to identify with others by seeing things from their perspective; putting yourself into their shoes. It is not arrogant to have empathy for someone because without this ability a lot of the changes that have been made to improve humanity wouldn't have occurred such as civil rights for blacks and gays, etc.
2007-01-14 21:54:04 · answer #2 · answered by sexyblack72 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course it is. TRUE empathy is NOT the simple act of putting yourself in the shoes of the other person. empathy is NOT sympathizing or conmmiseration, TRUE empathy is truly FEELING in your heart in your skin in your being what emotion the other person is feeling, you are FEELING their emotion, often this is done thru memory, and is somewhat subconcious, a psychic reaction , as someone is expressing or showing a feeling, or as you see something taking place you have a vivid remembrance in your emotions of a time when the same emotion was experienced by yourself, you are sort of reliving in your mnd that moment that brought on that emotion of anger, fear, helplessness or whatever and you can adequately FEEL TRULY FEEL that emotion in the moment, thus you can truly empathize (FEEL) the same sort of feeling that someone else is experiencing, when someone's mom dies you can recall the deep sadness when your mom died or when you lost your beloved pet its the empathy of loss, and thats how empathy REALLY works and people do NOT try or have to work to have empathy it just happens, and sometimes living in a world where thre is so much pain and hurt its hard to not feel a bit of sadness (NOT depression) or empathy most of the time
2007-01-14 22:16:52 · answer #3 · answered by vilynblackthorne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Empathy is the one quality that separates the great caregivers of the world from the good ones.Most have felt the whole array of emotions that is inherent in human beings. I don't have to have cancer to empathize fear and pain of a cancer patient. Arrogance;no. Love and compassion ;yes. have a great year.
2007-01-14 22:03:19 · answer #4 · answered by firestarter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must be young. You will only understand once you feel empathetic to someone. And don't worry, you will. Have you ever had a broken bone? If you have, and you see someone with the same bone broken, you know how they feel. You empathize with them. It works the same emotionally, too, for instance when a friend's parent dies and they were very close to them, and you've been through that.
2007-01-14 21:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by Road Dogâ?¢ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Human empathy cannot be perfect and is not infallible. However, experience and a common humanity can help us get close to an understanding in many cases.
2007-01-14 21:46:33 · answer #6 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
not really, empathy in no way can be considered arrogant unless that's how you do it. and the word actually means ' to reach for ', or 'travel to' , some really great things for humans to do, don't you think? like i empathise with your confusion, but i'm not confused.
but i have been confused in the past.(quite easily as i'm a hillbilly)
but , maybe that's a stretch....
2007-01-14 21:54:07 · answer #7 · answered by geezer 51 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People's feelings go straight to my heart and even more ... I feel what they feel inside themselves, especially when suffering, and believe me it hurts very badly, it ain't any theoretical stuff ... just feelings and strong emotions linked to the fact that anyone is more than over-sensitive .
2007-01-14 22:03:27 · answer #8 · answered by Seagirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's why life is not an exact science...there's no empirical evidence for the most effective way to comfort someone.
2007-01-14 21:45:35 · answer #9 · answered by tnix80 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it is, have you never been to an old peoples home. And no, it is not arrogant probably more ignorant if you don't.
2007-01-14 21:45:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋