2007-02-06 11:39:32 · 6 answers · asked by step 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
She could see our sadness, our empathy with the pain she was surely suffering.
2007-02-10 04:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by asok c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually some of those sentences can be switched with sympathy. Empathy and sympathy are often confused with one another, but don't really mean the same thing.
Sympathy is kinda like to pity, or to have an emotion towards something.
Empathy is like having an understanding of someone else's emotion, regardless of whether you have any emotion at all.
When a stranger says, "I empathize for your loss." They don't really care if your pet died or not, but they understand the emotion your going through, grief or what not.
However if a stranger says, "That poor girl lost her pup, and I felt sympathy for her." That means the stranger had an emotion, relating towards the little girl. Perhaps the stranger once had a pup of her own that she once lost, and can relate to the girls emotion.
So....if you have an emotion or can relate to someone else's emotion, its usually sympathy. If you understand someone else's emotion, situation, or circumstance, its empathy.
2007-02-06 11:58:25 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In addition to the above use, the term empathy is also used by some people to signify their heightened or higher sensitivity to the emotions and state of others.
2007-02-06 11:43:34 · answer #3 · answered by InnerSymbiance 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know Jim says he wants to stay sober, but I'm through having empathy for him because deep down he really doesn't.
2007-02-06 11:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by soulguy85 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The rich man had empathy for the homeless, because he was also once homeless.
2007-02-06 11:43:48 · answer #5 · answered by PH 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's okay. Who is "them"?
2016-05-24 01:12:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋