Comments on: Empathy, Sympathy, and Compassion 101 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/ Relationships, personal growth, individual and couple psychotherapy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:53:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Connie http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4771 Connie Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:13:44 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4771 I always understood empathy as the ability to put yourself in that person's shoes. Sympathy as a feeling of sorrow for what a person is going thru'. One can feel sorry for another without actually having experienced what they are going thru'. Compassion is the ultimate to me, as many compassionate souls have made an actual difference in the world by putting their feelings of empathy or sympathy into action; from Mother Theresa to the volunteers that of our significant organizations. Empathy is great, but I believe it is compassion that truly makes the difference in this world! I always understood empathy as the ability to put yourself in that person’s shoes. Sympathy as a feeling of sorrow for what a person is going thru’. One can feel sorry for another without actually having experienced what they are going thru’. Compassion is the ultimate to me, as many compassionate souls have made an actual difference in the world by putting their feelings of empathy or sympathy into action; from Mother Theresa to the volunteers that of our significant organizations.
Empathy is great, but I believe it is compassion that truly makes the difference in this world!

]]> By: Tom http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4646 Tom Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:30:11 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4646 These three words -- sympathy, empathy and compassion -- do form a little escalating chain of progrssively deeper feelings toward another's pain, but the lowest on this totem pole is sympathy, not empathy. Empathy goes another step beyond sympathy in recognizing another's pain and states one actually "feels" it in some type of a personal manner. Finally, compassion goes yet another step by involving an offer to help in relieving the other's pain. These three words — sympathy, empathy and compassion — do form a little escalating chain of progrssively deeper feelings toward another’s pain, but the lowest on this totem pole is sympathy, not empathy. Empathy goes another step beyond sympathy in recognizing another’s pain and states one actually “feels” it in some type of a personal manner. Finally, compassion goes yet another step by involving an offer to help in relieving the other’s pain.

]]> By: Mary http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4569 Mary Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:59:33 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4569 What psychological conditions a person has sympathy, empathy at times and a definite absence of compassion? What psychological conditions a person has sympathy, empathy at times and a definite absence of compassion?

]]> By: Ted http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4561 Ted Thu, 26 May 2011 04:02:14 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4561 I finally get it! Thank you! Sympathy is about what I am feeling. Empathy is about my understanding of what you are feeling. Compassion is an act in response to one or both of those. Marshal Rosenberg (Non-violent Communication) teaches us how to express empathy without sounding shallow and/or know-it-all. I finally get it! Thank you! Sympathy is about what I am feeling. Empathy is about my understanding of what you are feeling. Compassion is an act in response to one or both of those. Marshal Rosenberg (Non-violent Communication) teaches us how to express empathy without sounding shallow and/or know-it-all.

]]> By: Heloise http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4553 Heloise Mon, 16 May 2011 15:29:37 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4553 Great post, totally accurate! thanks! I always say: to understand does not mean to accept nor to suffer which is actually a synonym of accept. Great post, totally accurate! thanks! I always say: to understand does not mean to accept nor to suffer which is actually a synonym of accept.

]]> By: waterbug http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4458 waterbug Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:28:00 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4458 my daughter and I were talking about these distinctions - she nailed the action component of compassion. Its the difference between sympathy and empathy that we're still grasping at. I always thought of empathy as sharing the feelings of another WITHOUT LOSS OF EGO BOUNDARIES. I wonder if the difference isn't about boundaries. Sympathy seems a more boundaried or distant response. You speak to it when addressing the "I don't want your sympathy" undertone. something to do with relief, or power or the "not me" of the sympathizer my daughter and I were talking about these distinctions – she nailed the action component of compassion. Its the difference between sympathy and empathy that we’re still grasping at. I always thought of empathy as sharing the feelings of another WITHOUT LOSS OF EGO BOUNDARIES. I wonder if the difference isn’t about boundaries. Sympathy seems a more boundaried or distant response. You speak to it when addressing the “I don’t want your sympathy” undertone. something to do with relief, or power or the “not me” of the sympathizer

]]> By: ThinkingFish http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4384 ThinkingFish Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:31:05 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4384 Sorry but I have to disagree on your definition of sympathy. Empathy fundamentally is putting yourself in other's position, and feeling what they feel, as if it is happening to you. Sympathy on the other hand, means what another is going through affects you, and you probably want to show some support, understanding or sorrow. Sympathy does not necessarily mean you can literally "feel" what they feel, but you would show an agreeing gesture nonetheless. I would say empathy requires a deeper, or say more emotional understanding of another's situation than sympathy does. Sorry but I have to disagree on your definition of sympathy. Empathy fundamentally is putting yourself in other’s position, and feeling what they feel, as if it is happening to you. Sympathy on the other hand, means what another is going through affects you, and you probably want to show some support, understanding or sorrow. Sympathy does not necessarily mean you can literally “feel” what they feel, but you would show an agreeing gesture nonetheless. I would say empathy requires a deeper, or say more emotional understanding of another’s situation than sympathy does.

]]> By: sympathy gifts http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4344 sympathy gifts Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:33:40 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4344 I truly enjoyed your definitions of sympathy versus empathy. I have noticed a lot of people confuse the two. I think this is what makes others uncomfortable when dealing with someone that has lost a loved one. We may feel we need to sympathize with their grief when we may only need to empathize with it. I truly enjoyed your definitions of sympathy versus empathy. I have noticed a lot of people confuse the two. I think this is what makes others uncomfortable when dealing with someone that has lost a loved one. We may feel we need to sympathize with their grief when we may only need to empathize with it.

]]> By: Jan http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4335 Jan Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:49:33 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4335 Nice article. Thank you. ~Jan Nice article. Thank you. ~Jan

]]> By: g-force http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/comment-page-1/#comment-4314 g-force Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:20:55 +0000 http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/#comment-4314 Great job at taking up on a difficult topic. I found myself using these words loosely without really understanding the true meaning behing it until recently. I found your defintions for empathy and sympathy to be reversed with what one would find on the net. I would agree that compassion requires some kind of an act but I find it somewhat disturbing if I have to give my last dollar to someone who is in need more than myself but not knowing where my next dollar would come from next. Some people may not even think about it until after the fact. They could end up being in a worse position than the person they just gave their last dollar to. Does this still fit the bill for compassion?? I have yet to find a satisfactory answer and find current definition limiting. In the meantime, I think Buddhim may have hit a chord there. Compassion requires wisdom. What exactly is that wisdom, I have yet to find out but it is something that we all need to think about further. Great job at taking up on a difficult topic. I found myself using these words loosely without really understanding the true meaning behing it until recently.

I found your defintions for empathy and sympathy to be reversed with what one would find on the net. I would agree that compassion requires some kind of an act but I find it somewhat disturbing if I have to give my last dollar to someone who is in need more than myself but not knowing where my next dollar would come from next. Some people may not even think about it until after the fact. They could end up being in a worse position than the person they just gave their last dollar to. Does this still fit the bill for compassion??

I have yet to find a satisfactory answer and find current definition limiting. In the meantime, I think Buddhim may have hit a chord there. Compassion requires wisdom. What exactly is that wisdom, I have yet to find out but it is something that we all need to think about further.

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