Sympathy differs from empathy in the following ways:
With sympathy, the helper:
Helps within his/her comfort zone
Makes a cursory judgment of the person's needs
Often will get upset when it is explicitly revealed that their help is misguided or unwelcome (after a long buildup)
May feel as if he or she is the 'mentor', or the 'superior'
With empathy, the helper:
Relates to the person on a personal basis
Forms a deep emotional bond with the person on many levels
Learns to see the situation from the person's perspective
Sees the person more as an equal, and 'walks in their shoes'.
The two should not be confused. More often than not, sympathy is the form of 'caring' that is given to those in need, and can be quite misguided, especially in dire situations that most are not used to dealing with. Most therapists, teachers, and unfortunately parents will often give this kind of 'help' to a troubled or very upset person. However, if they were willing to step outside their comfort zones, they could learn how to relate effectively.
Despite these huge differences, many indeed DO confuse the two.
With sympathy, the helper:
Helps within his/her comfort zone
Makes a cursory judgment of the person's needs
Often will get upset when it is explicitly revealed that their help is misguided or unwelcome (after a long buildup)
May feel as if he or she is the 'mentor', or the 'superior'
With empathy, the helper:
Relates to the person on a personal basis
Forms a deep emotional bond with the person on many levels
Learns to see the situation from the person's perspective
Sees the person more as an equal, and 'walks in their shoes'.
The two should not be confused. More often than not, sympathy is the form of 'caring' that is given to those in need, and can be quite misguided, especially in dire situations that most are not used to dealing with. Most therapists, teachers, and unfortunately parents will often give this kind of 'help' to a troubled or very upset person. However, if they were willing to step outside their comfort zones, they could learn how to relate effectively.
Despite these huge differences, many indeed DO confuse the two.
by Shadow Creator December 06, 2007
Get the sympathy mug.Corrupt group of dumbshits that pander to the lowest common denominator. The reason that shit bands can make loads of money.
(Girl): OMFG IF PANIK SUKS Y DU THEY MAKE SO MUCH MONEY HAHAHA UR JUST JEALUS
(Guy): Because the music industry is a piece of shit, you fucking cunt.
(Guy): Because the music industry is a piece of shit, you fucking cunt.
by Shadow Creator January 04, 2008
Get the music industry mug.Extremely overprescribed drug that is commonly handed out like candy. Can provide some 'numbing' effects for some, but corrects no real 'imbalance'. Much of it's 'help' is placebo effect related and it can be dangerous in many instances.
by Shadow Creator September 12, 2007
Get the prozac mug.Any type of conduct or policy that improves a company's profits, either through reputation or simply through finances. Can in some cases be beneficial if people are watchful of said company, but more often than not, people are not. Thus, with big companies that have loads of power, influence, and money lying around, they use it in not so nice ways to maximize their revenue. Simply put; if your first order of 'business' is to make money, and you have the means to influence the government, the media, and even your own 'studies', would you do so? Of course you would. Well, at least most would. The major corporations of the US and the world have a monopoly on qualification and misinformation, allowing them to 'purify' their ranks into an increasingly self-serving elite with no danger from outsiders. Those with opposing agendas are systematically crushed through manipulation of financial necessities, or likely in far darker ways when the need becomes dire.
by Shadow Creator January 02, 2008
Get the good business mug.50 cent is one of the few black people who is actually a nigger in the true sense of the word. Holds black people and the entire human race back. Should be put in slave chains or shot in the face. His marketers use clever tactics to put stupid ideas in the heads of people and make him look 'tuff'.
50 cent is a great example of not only the worst of the black race, but the worst of humanity in general.
by Shadow Creator December 28, 2007
Get the 50 cent mug.It's like jaywalking, an offense that virtually everyone commits. There difference between the two is that speed laws are actually enforced (though quite selectively), usually to meet quotas.
Oh noes you were speeding 90 mph in the middle of the night on the interstate with no other cars within a mile what a danger to other citizens
by Shadow Creator January 09, 2008
Get the speeding mug.The process of wasting time with another one is infatuated or sexually attracted to, usually of the opposite sex. Most of the time, this takes the form of typical 'small talk', boring activities such as going out to dinner or to the movies, et cetera. This is usually to distract each other from the reality that they have nothing on their own, though usually women are more oblivious to this due to cultural norms. In real relationships, this can just be a form of killing time, because it's not really needed for any meaningful interaction. Typically, this lack of deeper bond is the reason why relationships split up, but the distractions keep it going for awhile so it's a big painful shitstorm when one or both parties realizes that fairyland is a fake place and that you have to WORK for a REAL relationship.
by Shadow Creator January 11, 2008
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