If the answer is that it depends, what does it depend on? And how does suffering affect the ability to feel empathy for those who caused the suffering if they have misfortunes?
2007-10-10 11:25:37 · 2 answers · asked by Pascha 7 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
It depends on how you deal with the personal suffering. If your suffering causes resentment or anger, then it can decrease the empathic ability. Resentment and anger are often the precursors to cold indifference or rage. neither of which are condusive to empathy. It's usually a belief or value in the person suffering that causes the person to rise above that suffering to be able to empathize. The Christian attitude toward forgiveness is a perfect example. "I forgive you, what you did is now between you and God...." Or simply a "push on through" kind of attitude. "You hurt me, but I will not waste any more energy on you." It's all about the original reaction to the suffering.
2007-10-10 11:40:33 · answer #1 · answered by Darksuns 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends.
It depends on if your heart hardens because of what hapened to you or not.
Someone who was beat as a child continiously is usually not sympathetic, they are usually angry and beat people themselves.
However someone who lost their child, is usually very sympathetic to others who are in the same situation.
I think it depends on what happened, the extent and duration it happened, and the age. As well as the mental state of the person effected. Some people are able to cope better than others, im not sure if there has ever been scientific explanations as to why, theories yes, but proven reasons...dont think so.
2007-10-10 11:38:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋