Empathy, sympathy, ect.

[Jade]

I'm just assuming my definitions for this stuff are accurate. Hope it's ok to post this here. You can tell I've got too much time on my hands lately<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Just a random thought that hit me last night. Empathy is the ability to feel what someone else is experiencing. Lets use physical or emotional pain as an example. Empathy breeds sympathy, which to me means feeling <i>and understanding</i> the pain from their point of view and not just our own.....therefore we sympathize with them. Sympathy is feeling with understanding as well. Sympathy bridges the gap between empathy and pity. In my weird little world pity is a verb, not a noun. Pity to me means being driven to help that person and actually taking some sort of action. Pity is the <i>action</i> whereas empathy & sympathy are all emotion & thought.

Here's my question.....
If empathy leads to sympathy, and sympathy drives us to pity (<i>to actually take action to help</i>) then is self pity even possible? Is the phrase "<u>wallow in self pity"</u> an oxymoron. After all pity is more or less a problem solving action so how can we be self pitying/self emphatic or depressed and yet try to fix our problem at the exact same time? Of course I could be totally off track on this if it even makes any sense. Any thoughts?<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[Jade]

I'm just assuming my definitions for this stuff are accurate. Hope it's ok to post this here. You can tell I've got too much time on my hands lately<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Just a random thought that hit me last night. Empathy is the ability to feel what someone else is experiencing. Lets use physical or emotional pain as an example. Empathy breeds sympathy, which to me means feeling <i>and understanding</i> the pain from their point of view and not just our own.....therefore we sympathize with them. Sympathy is feeling with understanding as well. Sympathy bridges the gap between empathy and pity. In my weird little world pity is a verb, not a noun. Pity to me means being driven to help that person and actually taking some sort of action. Pity is the <i>action</i> whereas empathy & sympathy are all emotion & thought.

Here's my question.....
If empathy leads to sympathy, and sympathy drives us to pity (<i>to actually take action to help</i>) then is self pity even possible? Is the phrase "<u>wallow in self pity"</u> an oxymoron. After all pity is more or less a problem solving action so how can we be self pitying/self emphatic or depressed and yet try to fix our problem at the exact same time? Of course I could be totally off track on this if it even makes any sense. Any thoughts?<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[Jade]

I'm just assuming my definitions for this stuff are accurate. Hope it's ok to post this here. You can tell I've got too much time on my hands lately<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Just a random thought that hit me last night. Empathy is the ability to feel what someone else is experiencing. Lets use physical or emotional pain as an example. Empathy breeds sympathy, which to me means feeling <i>and understanding</i> the pain from their point of view and not just our own.....therefore we sympathize with them. Sympathy is feeling with understanding as well. Sympathy bridges the gap between empathy and pity. In my weird little world pity is a verb, not a noun. Pity to me means being driven to help that person and actually taking some sort of action. Pity is the <i>action</i> whereas empathy & sympathy are all emotion & thought.

Here's my question.....
If empathy leads to sympathy, and sympathy drives us to pity (<i>to actually take action to help</i>) then is self pity even possible? Is the phrase "<u>wallow in self pity"</u> an oxymoron. After all pity is more or less a problem solving action so how can we be self pitying/self emphatic or depressed and yet try to fix our problem at the exact same time? Of course I could be totally off track on this if it even makes any sense. Any thoughts?<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[65rosessamurai]

My understanding to empathy is understanding what the other person is feeling, without feeling the same thing.

Sympathy is feeling the same thing as the other person feels.

Pity...well, thats defined as a synonym for sympathy and empathy, but basically is a word to give greif or concern to those having misfortune.

I've never seen how empathy lead to sympathy, and eventually turns to pity.

And, according to the "American Heritage Dictionary", they are all nouns, but with a change in sentence structure can become a verb, if my English is correct.

In general, I understood that offering Empathy was the best and most healthy. And, as it was defined, offers the understanding of someones misfortune without building up the same feelings. Sympathy, on the other hand, suggests that the same feeling is given, thus the one who is NOT of misfortune has the feeling as if they are given the same misfortune--a waste of energy, and is what would lead to pity.

Those who are in a depressed "mode" who try to get out of it, has a good healthy look on staying out of depression. Though in most cases, before fixing the problem, the source of the problem must be first understood.

Self-pity is self-destructive, and can keep a person in the depressed "mode", in addition, they may be conciously, or subconciously trying to pull others in with them.

And, yes, you may have a little too much time on your hands...me...I'm just trying to "kill time" right now!

Most of this is my perspective, so I do hope it helps.

 

[65rosessamurai]

My understanding to empathy is understanding what the other person is feeling, without feeling the same thing.

Sympathy is feeling the same thing as the other person feels.

Pity...well, thats defined as a synonym for sympathy and empathy, but basically is a word to give greif or concern to those having misfortune.

I've never seen how empathy lead to sympathy, and eventually turns to pity.

And, according to the "American Heritage Dictionary", they are all nouns, but with a change in sentence structure can become a verb, if my English is correct.

In general, I understood that offering Empathy was the best and most healthy. And, as it was defined, offers the understanding of someones misfortune without building up the same feelings. Sympathy, on the other hand, suggests that the same feeling is given, thus the one who is NOT of misfortune has the feeling as if they are given the same misfortune--a waste of energy, and is what would lead to pity.

Those who are in a depressed "mode" who try to get out of it, has a good healthy look on staying out of depression. Though in most cases, before fixing the problem, the source of the problem must be first understood.

Self-pity is self-destructive, and can keep a person in the depressed "mode", in addition, they may be conciously, or subconciously trying to pull others in with them.

And, yes, you may have a little too much time on your hands...me...I'm just trying to "kill time" right now!

Most of this is my perspective, so I do hope it helps.

 

[65rosessamurai]

My understanding to empathy is understanding what the other person is feeling, without feeling the same thing.

Sympathy is feeling the same thing as the other person feels.

Pity...well, thats defined as a synonym for sympathy and empathy, but basically is a word to give greif or concern to those having misfortune.

I've never seen how empathy lead to sympathy, and eventually turns to pity.

And, according to the "American Heritage Dictionary", they are all nouns, but with a change in sentence structure can become a verb, if my English is correct.

In general, I understood that offering Empathy was the best and most healthy. And, as it was defined, offers the understanding of someones misfortune without building up the same feelings. Sympathy, on the other hand, suggests that the same feeling is given, thus the one who is NOT of misfortune has the feeling as if they are given the same misfortune--a waste of energy, and is what would lead to pity.

Those who are in a depressed "mode" who try to get out of it, has a good healthy look on staying out of depression. Though in most cases, before fixing the problem, the source of the problem must be first understood.

Self-pity is self-destructive, and can keep a person in the depressed "mode", in addition, they may be conciously, or subconciously trying to pull others in with them.

And, yes, you may have a little too much time on your hands...me...I'm just trying to "kill time" right now!

Most of this is my perspective, so I do hope it helps.

 

[Mockingbird]

I think pity is just feeling sorry for someone without necessarily feeling or understanding what they are going through. In my world, pity is less than both empathy and sympathy. Or in other words, I'd rather have someone tell me, "I sypmathize," or, "I empathize with you," rather than say, "I pity you" (especially since the word pity can carry a connotation of contempt).

Self-pity, then, would be defined as a person feeling sorry for himself without understanding what he himself is going through (and may carry within himself underlying feelings of self-contempt as well). Of course a person who is in pain will understand what it feels like to be in pain, but he may not understand the reasons behind the pain (in spiritual or philosophical terms). It stands to reason, then, if the person had insight, he would then have understanding and turn away from self-pity. Without insight, however, the person can only draw himself deeper and deeper into his own pool of desolation.

That's my definition, anyway.

 

[Mockingbird]

I think pity is just feeling sorry for someone without necessarily feeling or understanding what they are going through. In my world, pity is less than both empathy and sympathy. Or in other words, I'd rather have someone tell me, "I sypmathize," or, "I empathize with you," rather than say, "I pity you" (especially since the word pity can carry a connotation of contempt).

Self-pity, then, would be defined as a person feeling sorry for himself without understanding what he himself is going through (and may carry within himself underlying feelings of self-contempt as well). Of course a person who is in pain will understand what it feels like to be in pain, but he may not understand the reasons behind the pain (in spiritual or philosophical terms). It stands to reason, then, if the person had insight, he would then have understanding and turn away from self-pity. Without insight, however, the person can only draw himself deeper and deeper into his own pool of desolation.

That's my definition, anyway.

 

[Mockingbird]

I think pity is just feeling sorry for someone without necessarily feeling or understanding what they are going through. In my world, pity is less than both empathy and sympathy. Or in other words, I'd rather have someone tell me, "I sypmathize," or, "I empathize with you," rather than say, "I pity you" (especially since the word pity can carry a connotation of contempt).

Self-pity, then, would be defined as a person feeling sorry for himself without understanding what he himself is going through (and may carry within himself underlying feelings of self-contempt as well). Of course a person who is in pain will understand what it feels like to be in pain, but he may not understand the reasons behind the pain (in spiritual or philosophical terms). It stands to reason, then, if the person had insight, he would then have understanding and turn away from self-pity. Without insight, however, the person can only draw himself deeper and deeper into his own pool of desolation.

That's my definition, anyway.

 

[JazzysMom]

I think pity is often used in a derogatory fashion. Empathy & sympathy are often used interchangeably when depending on the situation there is a large difference. IN MY EYES the implication when using them is different then what the definitions are:

PITY = Used when describing something/someone with a pathetic or sorrowful tone.

EMPATHY = A noun used when understanding someones thoughts and actions from personal experiences.

SYMPATHY = A noun used to TRY and understand someones thoughts and actions, but having no personal experiences similiar can only imagine it.

 

[JazzysMom]

I think pity is often used in a derogatory fashion. Empathy & sympathy are often used interchangeably when depending on the situation there is a large difference. IN MY EYES the implication when using them is different then what the definitions are:

PITY = Used when describing something/someone with a pathetic or sorrowful tone.

EMPATHY = A noun used when understanding someones thoughts and actions from personal experiences.

SYMPATHY = A noun used to TRY and understand someones thoughts and actions, but having no personal experiences similiar can only imagine it.

 

[JazzysMom]

I think pity is often used in a derogatory fashion. Empathy & sympathy are often used interchangeably when depending on the situation there is a large difference. IN MY EYES the implication when using them is different then what the definitions are:

PITY = Used when describing something/someone with a pathetic or sorrowful tone.

EMPATHY = A noun used when understanding someones thoughts and actions from personal experiences.

SYMPATHY = A noun used to TRY and understand someones thoughts and actions, but having no personal experiences similiar can only imagine it.