Empathy and Sympathy

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Is there a difference between sympathy and empathy now or not?

This got me confused as both terms are regularly interpreted differently.

I thought that the term empathy describes the ability to accurately identify another's mood. Just the pure ability of recognition. Much like 'aha, Sora's happy'.

Unlike this recognition, the term sympathy involves an active understanding of another's mood. Not only 'aha, Sora's happy' and full stop, but rather 'I can understand and appreciate Sora's happiness'.

So, yes or no?

One of the meanings of sympathy:

a. The act or power of sharing the feelings of another.
b. A feeling or an expression of pity or sorrow for the distress of another; compassion or commiseration. Often used in the plural. See Synonyms at pity.

One of the meanings of empathy:

1. Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.


So you are right.

Technically it's true that autistics don't have much empathy, allthough we may have a lot of sympathy.

they are similar and more or less used to mean the same thing by people.

looking up the origin of words helps at least see what they originally meant.

empathy is a relatively new term: first used in 1858 by philosopher Rudolf Lotze,
based on the Greek en- (in) + pathos (feeling) (found in the Online Etymology Dictionary).

i was reading somewhere about the original sense of "empathy" being a literal, internal
feeling in relation to other's experience. thus when you see someone getting a shot,
you cringe and feel a literal poke in your arm. when you see someone smiling, you get a
literal internal sensation of happiness. this is what Lotze was interested in.

i don't do this kind of literal empathy too well (but i can sort it out intellectually as people
are relatively predictable and easy to read).

"sym" is together, so together-feeling. similar, but is older in origin, more generic
sharing of feelings.

fG

Empathy: Identifying and feeling the emotions of others when you haven't experienced a similar event
Sympathy: Identifying and feeling the emotions of others when you have experienced a similar event, so you have insight into what it actually feels like [from your perspective]

I seem to have some sympathy; I don't have much empathy (I feel that I have none, but that's probably impossible to discern).

Concerning the latter, I can see a dying child in front of me, and I feel nothing, a mother crying over the same child, nothing. I'd be sad if I was close to the child and the mother, but that's not empathy, that's other emotions.

My mistake, your example is incorrect as empathy means you'll still appreciate the feeling as you've correctly recognized it, you then have the ability to relate to it, and feel it.

Empathy is a tough one for those of us on the spectrum. Theory of Mind is empathy so if you have delayed ToM or a low order you won't understand it. Many on the spectrum rely on echolalia to MIMIC as opposed to using their mirror neurons to MIRROR.

A problem with our mirror neurons means that it is difficult for us to be able to FEEL other peoples emotions or know what they are thinking. Theory of Mind can be installed into anyone providing the right methods are used. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is very useful whereas ABA is IMHO useless.......................I am diving for cover!

Watching a footballer score a goal and being excited is one thing but it is quite another to feel the same rush and know how that footballer is feeling without the ability to empathise!

Hope that makes sense?

Jelibean, then that explains why when my friends are drinking I feel like the same euphoria without having touched one beer

I lack both. That's probably why I always ask people if they're mad at me, because I honestly can't tell.

It is very difficult for someone on the spectrum to ascertain how someone else is feeling. If you are always catching yourself asking..............what is that person thinking, the chances are that you have Delayed ToM! Don't worry though you would not be on the spectrum if you didn't, it is just the nature of the beast.

The latest research about Mirror neurons is fascinating and it explains a lot too. That and a high fear factor combines to actually make us very vulnerable!

I always knew what sympathy was but only recently have I managed to attain the dizzy heights of 4th order ToM! Empathy is a whole different ball game! But it is possible to install ToM but be prepared for some hard work!

I have empathy I can identify when somebody is sad, angry, happy, etc. What the problem is that I have like little sympathy for others. I think I lack a little in empathy and sympathy

Hi Brandon J, I think what you are describing is delayed low order theory of mind. I too could identify if someone was sad or happy but did not really understand the feelings that accompanied that observation. Bit like knowing the sky is blue but not understanding why! It is all to do with MEANING.

Empathy in the full sense that neurotypicals experience is just NOT possible in those of us on the spectrum although we can learn advanced ToM with the help of a jolly good mentor! Luckily for me I have that but I had to wait dinosaur years! Theory of Mind is a pretty big experience to have, you know if you have it! Trust me, it suddenly came to me and since then I have been training my brain bigstyle! So it is possible! But hey sometimes empathy is not nice, having to experience other peoples pain and sorrow is heartbreaking. Meaning ....................Mmmm a big word that most people ignore!

Good luck Brandon J, you sound wonderful! Hug.

Example: Some-one lost their job.

Empathetic reaction: Don't worry, there is a demand for people with your skills and you'll get new employment soon.

Sympathetic : That's a tough situation, the same thing happened to me a year ago.

Maybe not the best example explaining the difference but what Danielismyname said is what a therapist told me. Sympathy is getting into the same position as the other person and empathy is pulling the person out of it, provided its a negative scenario.

I have trouble with this myself, I use sympathy too often. Empathy smells like bs to me (it's not dealing with reality and borders on dishonesty) but that is supposedly the best way to show you are caring about someone's feelings.

I have loads of sympathy, but have huge problems with empathy.

I could never really understand the fundamental difference between 'feeling' empathy and 'intellectualising' empathy. Do most aspies feel or intellectualise?

Check out Mirror Neurons folks, it will make a lot of sense. In our brains imagine them as little dental mirrors on top of lollipop sticks! Ok got the picture! Now imagine a hundred of them all sticking up and facing forward!

Trouble is that is all ours do! Look forward! In a neurotypical brain they swivel around and watch everything. They pick up on the tiniest signal and return it to other parts of the limbic system! Fantastic eh! But sadly we are not neurotypical so it is HARD WORK!

Empathy can only be felt if your mirror neurons are working even part way! True Empathy that is! So don't blame your brain, train it instead. Just google Mirror Neuron Dysfuncion in Autistic Spectrum Conditons! Honestly it is fascinating stuff. The brain of a neurotypical is literally totally different. Anatomically and physiologically!

Oh by the way did you know you had 2 brains! And no I don't mean in the head! You have one somewhere else....................starters for ten? !

I think people often claim to feel empathetic when they are really expressing sympathy. I know when I feel sympathetic about someone else’s plight it isn’t at all an unpleasant emotion for me. When I’m sympathetic it feels good to help someone in need.

If I literally experienced other people’s suffering it wouldn’t be easy to help them. If that were the case I would probably be more motivated to avoid people in need. I think that would cripple my ability to help. Yet this isn’t the case. If I see someone suffering and I can do something about it chances are I will try to help in any way I can. It’s actually a very positive urge.

It's definitely true that I feel a stronger urge to express sympathy when someone is going through something that I have experienced myself... but I still don't literally feel the emotion they are going through right at the time.