Motivation and emotion/Book/2024/Empathy versus sympathy

Empathy versus sympathy:
What's the difference and how do they influence behaviour and relationships?

Multimedia presentation (3 min)

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Overview

figure 1: Representation of supportive friends.

Imagine 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?

"Empathy is the most important skill you can practise. It will lead to greater success personally and professionally, and it will allow you to become happier."

The Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy

Empathy 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 (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 (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

• definition of empathy

Sympathy

• definition of sympathy

Comparing Empathy and Sympathy: Key Differences and Implications

explain the key differences using sources

key compassion

	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

introductory paragraph

(Decety & Cowell, 2014)

The Importance of Understanding Empathy and Sympathy

distinguishing between these two concepts is important- emotional well-being, and relationship-building.

How Psychological Science Can Enhance Our Understanding

research 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

Key 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

introductory paragraph on case study

(Barker, 2002)

Understanding Sympathy: Its Influence on Behaviour and Relationships

case study

Understanding Empathy: Its Influence on Behaviour and Relationships

case study

Test Your Understanding

• 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

1 Quizzes are an interactive learning feature:

	True
	False

2 Long quizzes are a good idea:

	True
	False

The Role of Culture in Empathy and Sympathy

introductory paragraph explaining cultural differences as a collective

Cultural Differences in Understanding Empathy

empathy de Greck et al., 2012)

Cultural Differences in Understanding Sympathy

sympathy (Mesquita & Karasawa, 2002)

The Connection Between Empathy vs. Sympathy and Their Impact on Motivation and Emotion

Empathy and Sympathy Influence on Emotional Regulation

individual emotions and other people's emotions

The Role of Motivation in Empathetic and Sympathetic Responses

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

Emotional Consequences of Empathy and Sympathy

how emotional consequences influence long-term behaviour and relationship dynamics

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

• 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: What is the answer to the sub-title question based on psychological theory and research? What are the answers to the focus questions? What are the practical, take-home messages? (Even for the topic development, have a go at the likely take-home message)

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)

Suggestions for this section: Present in alphabetical order Use sentence casing Include the source in parentheses

References

Decety, 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

Suggestions for this section: Important aspects of APA style for references include: Wrap the set of references in the hanging indent template. Use "Edit source": {{Hanging indent|1= the full list of references}} Author surname, followed by a comma, then the author initials separated by full stops and spaces Year of publication in parentheses Title of work in lower case except first letter and proper names, ending in a full-stop Journal title in italics, volume number in italics, issue number in parentheses, first and last page numbers separated by an en-dash(–), followed by a full-stop Provide the full doi as a URL and working hyperlink The most common mistakes include: Incorrect capitalisation Incorrect italicisation Citing sources that weren't read or consulted

External links

Provide 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)

Suggestions for this section: Only select links to major external resources about the topic Present in alphabetical order Include the source in parentheses after the link