Understanding the Contrast: Empathy versus Sympathy
Empathy and sympathy are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings Empathy involves understanding and sharing someone else's feelings, while sympathy involves feeling sorry for someone else's situation Learn more about the difference between these two concepts and their role in emotional intelligence
The usage of the words empathy and sympathy often causes confusion among people. This is understandable since they are commonly used in situations such as mishaps, loss, and theft. Although they are used in similar scenarios, their meanings are distinct. It is important to comprehend the precise meanings of both words and how to utilize them correctly to avoid confusion.
In this article, you will learn the difference between empathy and sympathy, how to use them with the help of examples, and key differences between both of them.
What is Empathy?
The term "empathy" was coined by British psychologist Edward B. Titchener in 1909. However, its origin can be traced back to the ancient Greek word "empatheia," which means "passion." In German, the concept of empathy is translated as "einfühlungsvermögen," which refers to the ability to share feelings. In contrast, the Greek word "empatheia" has a negative connotation and implies a negative feeling towards a person. The English noun empathy means the ability to understand and identify with the feelings or situations of others.
For example
I have empathy for people who have lost their family members in a road accident because I have lost my friend in a road accident too.
Having been in the same situation, I can empathize with those who are struggling to shed excess weight. Empathy means putting yourself in someone else's shoes, and in this case, I can truly understand and relate to the challenges of losing weight.
What is Sympathy?
The term "sympathy" finds its roots in the ancient Greek word "sunpathos," which translates to "with or together" and "suffering." Over time, the word evolved into Latin as "sympathia," and eventually into middle French as "sympathie." In the English language, "sympathy" is defined as "a feeling of sadness or sorrow for the suffering or agony of another person."
I called my friend to offer my sympathy as she lost her job.
You should not only offer sympathy to earthquake victims but also help them financially to re-start their lives.
Sympathy is the expression of sorrow and compassion towards the suffering of others, whereas empathy goes beyond sympathy as it involves personally relating to their feelings based on shared experiences. This is evident from the examples given above.
Difference between empathy and sympathy
Empathy vs Sympathy
To be able to understand the feelings of others as you also have been in the same predicament. To acknowledge the sorrows and hardships of other people and to console and pacify them.
Understanding the personal experiences of others is essential to truly empathize with them and comprehend their sorrow. This requires us to step outside of our own experiences and acknowledge the struggles of those around us. For instance, if someone is less fortunate than us, it can be difficult to comprehend their hardships unless we actively try to understand their perspective. By doing so, we can develop a deeper sense of empathy and show genuine compassion towards others during difficult times.
The relation between Empathy & Sympathy (in emotional intelligence)
Compassion is a powerful emotion that involves both acceptance and understanding. Both sympathy and empathy are expressions of this emotion, and they both involve caring for others. However, empathy takes this a step further by allowing us to truly understand the emotions of others because we have experienced similar feelings ourselves. It is about seeing ourselves in others and feeling a deep connection to their experiences.
Empathy and sympathy are not always experienced in the same way, nor are they exclusively personal emotions. While someone who has lost a loved one may receive sympathy from many, only those who have been through a similar situation can truly empathize. To differentiate between the two, it can be helpful to remember that sympathy is a feeling shared with someone who is suffering, while empathy involves understanding and relating to that suffering as if it were your own experience. In essence, empathy is a matter of the head, while sympathy is a matter of the heart.
