sym·pa·thy [sim-puh-thee] –noun
1. harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.
2. the harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons of like tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.
3. the fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, esp. in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.
4. sympathies, a. feelings or impulses of compassion. b. feelings of favor, support, or loyalty:
5. favorable or approving accord; favor or approval:
6. agreement, consonance, or accord.
7. Psychology. a relationship between persons in which the condition of one induces a parallel or reciprocal condition in another.
8. Physiology. the relation between parts or organs whereby a condition or disorder of one part induces some effect in another. –adjective
9. expressing sympathy: a sympathy card; a sympathy vote.
[Origin: 1560–70; < L sympathīa < Gk sympátheia, equiv. to sympathe-, s. of sympath![]()
s sympathetic (sym- sym- + páth(os) suffering, sensation + -és adj. suffix) + -ia -y3![]()
]
___________________________________________________________________________
em·pa·thy [em-puh-thee] –noun
1. the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.
2. the imaginative ascribing to an object, as a natural object or work of art, feelings or attitudes present in oneself: By means of empathy, a great painting becomes a mirror of the self.
[Origin: 1900–05; < Gk empátheia affection, equiv. to em- + path- (base of páschein to suffer) + -eia -ia; present meaning translates G Einfühlung]
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For the past several weeks my personal life has been inundated with victims, as well as had opportunity to share some of my own "victim" feelings with others. In my effort to "be there for" those with whom my path crosses, and to keep myself from falling into victim-stance, my mind has been trying to sort out a few things. This is but one of them. It's my opinion, and my intellectual, personal, pseudo-conclusion.
In my opinion a victim first seeks out help, then actual justice, then either sympathy or empathy.
I've had much opportunity in my life to observe and interact with those who are victims, and those who consider themselves victims - Friends, family members, and acquaintances. I'm sure each of you have as well, for victims, unfortunately, abound. =(
According to definition, sympathy is an emotional response and empathy is an intellectual response. Sympathy entails harmony, agreement, commiseration. Basically - the taking on of the actual feeling itself; misery loves company. Empathy entails identification with, or a vicarious experiencing of. Basically - acknowledgement of.
We're all aware the definitions are guidelines - common ways of expressing the fundamentals of a concept. In day-to-day reality - empathy is an *understanding* of the thoughts and feelings, of a victim; sympathy is the *sharing* of (feeling it themselves in an intercessory type manner) in the form of full identification with the victim.
Interpretations, like opinions, are subjective. As I attempt to categorize things in my mind by interpreting the observations I've been afforded, I interpret the following.
Victims *seek* empathy to feel emotional justice. There is much passion involved. Depending on the offense, the first and most prominent emotions included are horror, fear, sadness, disgust, angst, anxiety, frustration, grief, guilt, loneliness, panic, and unfounded shame. I know when I have been a victim this is what happened to me. The most phenomenal thing about victims is, they seek empathy - not sympathy - because since they have been through the trauma they would never demand that someone else suffer so harshly simply to offer them sympathy. I find that utterly amazing, and such a beautiul and humanitarian response to trauma.
Those who consider themselves victims *demand* sympathy to feel emotional justice. There is much passion involved. Depending on the offense, the first and most prominent emotions included are rage, anger, hatred, self-pity, pride, jealousy, and are inconsolable for any lengthy period of time. I know when I have perceived I have been the victim, this is what happened to me. {{sheepish look}} The most phenomenal thing about self-perceived victims is, they seek sympathy - not empathy - because they have some need to bring everyone into their own hole in order to make them feel they have received emotional justice. As I said, misery loves company, and mia culpa!
I'd be interested in your experiences, observations, opinions, and interpretations - as hearing these things from others will help me to do what I set out to do. . . be there for those who have need, and keep myself in proper "check".
