Motivation and emotion/Book/2024/Empathy versus sympathy
What's the difference and how do they influence behaviour and relationships?
Overview
editImagine you are having a really bad day—everything feels overwhelming, and nothing is going right. Just as you feel it couldn't get worse, you spill your coffee on your favourite white shirt. In the whirlwind of it all, you fall to the ground and break down.
- Friend A notices how distressed you are and says, "I know how you feel; I spilled my coffee last week on my white shirt. Please don't cry; everything will be alright."
- Friend B sits with you on the cold, hard floor and says, "It sounds like you're going through a really tough time. I'm here to listen if you want to talk".
Note: Friend: A displayed sympathy
Friend: B displayed empathy Which scenario had a significant impact on your behaviour once you had time to calm down? Which friend would have more of a meaningful connection with you? What makes empathy different from sympathy? Which friend will you go to the next time you are seeking support? |
The Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy
editEmpathy and sympathy are often used interchangeably, yet they represent two distinct psychological processes that, although linked, have significantly different impacts on our relationships and behaviour.
According to [1](Batson, 2009), empathy involves a multifaceted set of responses, including emotional resonance, perspective-taking, and a deep understanding of another’s emotional state and enhances behaviour of compassion and supportiveness. leading to the strengthening our relationships.
Sympathy, as [1](Batson, 2009) suggests, involves a superficial recognition of another’s suffering, distinguished by feelings of pity rather than shared emotional experience. This type of response can often create a sense of distance in relationships, as it lacks a deeper emotional engagement that empathy provides.
Understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy can lead to changes in behaviour that result in more meaningful connections and stronger emotional support within our relationships. By adapting our behaviours with this understanding, we can actively strengthen and deepen our relationships
Empathy
edit- definition of empathy
Sympathy
edit- definition of sympathy
Comparing Empathy and Sympathy: Key Differences and Implications
editexplain the key differences using sources
Sympathy | Empathy | |
Definition | A pity-based response to a distressing situation that is characterized by a lack of relational understanding and the self-preservation of the observer | An affective response that acknowledges and attempts to understand an individual’s suffering through emotional resonance |
Defining characteristics | Observing
Reacting Misguided Lack of understanding Unhelpful Ego based Self-preservation |
Acknowledgment of suffering
Understanding the person Affective response |
Response to suffering | Acknowledgment | Acknowledgment, understanding, and emotional resonance |
Type of response | A visceral reaction to a distressing situation | Objective and affective response to a distressing situation |
Emotional state of observer | Emotional dissonance | Emotional resonance and emotional contagion (“feeling with”) |
Motivators of response | Pity/ego/obligation | Circumstantial/affective state of observer/duty/relatedness to patient/deservedness of patient |
Patient-reported outcomes | Demoralized
Patronized Overwhelmed Compounded suffering |
Heard
Understood Validated |
Examples | “I’m so sorry”
“This must be awful” “I can’t imagine what it must be like |
“Help me to understand your situation”
“I get the sense that you are feeling …” “I feel your sadness” |
Understanding the Problem and the Role of Psychological Science
editintroductory paragraph
[2](Decety & Cowell, 2014)
The Importance of Understanding Empathy and Sympathy
editdistinguishing between these two concepts is important- emotional well-being, and relationship-building.
How Psychological Science Can Enhance Our Understanding
editresearch in psychology- clarify the differences between empathy and sympathy and how this understanding can be applied in real world situation
Key Psychological Theories and Research on Empathy and Sympathy
editKey Theories and Research Findings contributed to understanding empathy and sympathy
As you read further, consider these questions:
- How does empathy and sympathy shape your interactions with others?
- Which type of support do you tend to offer or seek?
- How can understanding these differences improve your relationships?
Exploring Emotional Responses: The Role Empathy and Sympathy
editintroductory paragraph on case study
[3](Barker, 2002)
Understanding Sympathy: Its Influence on Behaviour and Relationships
editcase study
Understanding Empathy: Its Influence on Behaviour and Relationships
editcase study
Test Your Understanding
edit- what will be included in the quiz
- Definitions of empathy and sympathy
- Key differences between empathy and sympathy
- Examples from the case studies
- Cultural influences on empathy and sympathy
The Role of Culture in Empathy and Sympathy
editintroductory paragraph explaining cultural differences as a collective
Cultural Differences in Understanding Empathy
editempathy [4]de Greck et al., 2012)
Influence of Cultural Differences on Behaviour
editImpact on Relationships in Different Cultural Contexts
editCultural Differences in Understanding Sympathy
editsympathy [5](Mesquita & Karasawa, 2002)
Influence of Cultural Differences on Behaviour
editImpact on Relationships in Different Cultural Contexts
editThe Connection Between Empathy vs. Sympathy and Their Impact on Motivation and Emotion
editEmpathy and Sympathy Influence on Emotional Regulation
editindividual emotions and other people's emotions [6]
The Role of Motivation in Empathetic and Sympathetic Responses
editIntrinsic and extrinsic motivation [7]
Emotional Consequences of Empathy and Sympathy
edithow emotional consequences influence long-term behaviour and relationship dynamics [8]
note: i could also draw upon different types of relationships
- Aim for three to six main headings in-between the Overview and Conclusion
- Sub-headings can also be used, but
- avoid having sections with only one sub-heading
- provide an introductory paragraph before breaking into sub-section
- Provide at least three bullet-points per heading and sub-heading, including for the Overview and Conclusion
- Include key citation
Conclusion
edit- The Conclusion is arguably the most important section
- Suggested word count: 150 to 330 words
- It should be possible for someone to only read the Overview and the Conclusion and still get a pretty good idea of the problem and what is known based on psychological science
Suggestions for this section:
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See also
Provide internal (wiki) links to the most relevant Wikiversity pages (esp. related motivation and emotion book chapters) and Wikipedia articles. Use these formats:
- Light triad (Book chapter, 2021)
- Collaborative authoring using wiki (Wikiversity)
- Self determination theory (Wikipedia)
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References
editDecety, J., Ickes, W., Batson, C. D., Blair, R. J. R., Bozarth, J. D., Buysse, A., Butler, S. F., Carlin, M., Carter, C. S., & Craig, K. D. (2009). The Social Neuroscience of Empathy (1st ed.). MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262012973.001.0001
Decety, J., & Cowell, J. M. (2014). Friends or Foes: Is Empathy Necessary for Moral Behavior? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9(5), 525–537. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614545130
Barker, K. (2002). Self-Help Literature and the Making of an Illness Identity: The Case of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). Social Problems (Berkeley, Calif.), 49(3), 279–300. https://doi.org/10.1525/sp.2002.49.3.279
de Greck, M., Shi, Z., Wang, G., Zuo, X., Yang, X., Wang, X., Northoff, G., & Han, S. (2012). Culture modulates brain activity during empathy with anger. NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.), 59(3), 2871–2882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.09.052
Bresnahan, M. J., Shearman, S. M., Lee, S. Y., Ohashi, R., & Mosher, D. (2002). Personal and cultural differences in responding to criticism in three countries. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 5(2), 93–105. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-839X.00097
Decety, J., & Jackson, P. L. (2006). A Social-Neuroscience Perspective on Empathy. Current Directions in Psychological Science : A Journal of the American Psychological Society, 15(2), 54–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00406.x
Wren, T. E. (2003). Empathy and Moral Development: Implications for Caring and Justice [Review of Empathy and Moral Development: Implications for Caring and Justice]. Ethics, 113(2), 417–419. University of Chicago, acting through its Press. https://doi.org/10.1086/343014
Beail, N. (1988). Empathy and its Development. Edited by Nancy Eisenberg and Janet Strayer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1988. 406 pp. £32.50 (hb). British Journal of Psychiatry, 153(6), 871–872. https://doi.org/10.1192/S0007125000224951
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External links
editProvide external links to highly relevant resources such as presentations, news articles, and professional sites. Use sentence casing. For example:
- Six top tips for writing a great essay (University of Melbourne)
- The importance of structure (skillsyouneed.com)
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Batson, C. D. (2009). These things called empathy: Eight related but distinct phenomena. In J. Decety & W. Ickes (Eds.), The social neuroscience of empathy (pp. 3-15). MIT Press
- ↑ Decety, Jean; Cowell, Jason M. (2014-09). "Friends or Foes". Perspectives on Psychological Science 9 (5): 525–537. doi:10.1177/1745691614545130. ISSN 1745-6916. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1745691614545130.
- ↑ Barker, Kristin (2002-08). "Self-Help Literature and the Making of an Illness Identity: The Case of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)". Social Problems 49 (3): 279–300. doi:10.1525/sp.2002.49.3.279. https://academic.oup.com/socpro/article-lookup/doi/10.1525/sp.2002.49.3.279.
- ↑ de Greck, Moritz; Shi, Zhenhao; Wang, Gang; Zuo, Xiangyu; Yang, Xuedong; Wang, Xiaoying; Northoff, Georg; Han, Shihui (2012-02). "Culture modulates brain activity during empathy with anger". NeuroImage 59 (3): 2871–2882. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.09.052. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1053811911011268.
- ↑ Bresnahan, Mary Jiang; Shearman, Sachiyo Morinaga; Lee, Sun Young; Ohashi, Rie; Mosher, David (2002-08). "Personal and cultural differences in responding to criticism in three countries". Asian Journal of Social Psychology 5 (2): 93–105. doi:10.1111/1467-839X.00097. ISSN 1367-2223. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-839X.00097.
- ↑ Decety, Jean; Jackson, Philip L. (2006-04). "A Social-Neuroscience Perspective on Empathy". Current Directions in Psychological Science 15 (2): 54–58. doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00406.x. ISSN 0963-7214. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00406.x.
- ↑ Wren, Thomas E. (2003-01). "Book ReviewsMartin L. Hoffman, Empathy and Moral Development: Implications for Caring and Justice .Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Pp. 331. $39.95 (cloth).". Ethics 113 (2): 417–419. doi:10.1086/343014. ISSN 0014-1704. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/343014.
- ↑ Beail, Nigel (1988-12). "Empathy and its Development. Edited by Nancy Eisenberg and Janet Strayer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1988. 406 pp. £32.50 (hb).". British Journal of Psychiatry 153 (6): 871–872. doi:10.1192/S0007125000224951. ISSN 0007-1250. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0007125000224951/type/journal_article.