sympathy and empathy

Question

What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Have you experienced these things in your daily life, both as a giver and a receiver? How did these experiences personally affect you? give example of sympathy and empathy both as a giver and as a receiver?

Answer 1

Sympathy and Empathy:

In simple words, sympathy is about providing solace to another person. Showing support even the person is in distress. Empathy on the other hand is something deeper. When we empathize with a person we are actually trying to put our feet in the shoes of that person. In recent times, these two words are gaining more values. As we step into the 21st century, a faster pace of life increases the distance between our fellow beings. All of us at some point in our life has either received or shown both the emotions. Suppose when our close ones pass away, people showed sympathy. They express their grief. However, among those people, if someone who really understands the loss and promises to support in times of need, is the one who shows empathy. In mundane life, it is difficult to distinguish between sympathy and empathy. It simply depends on the receiver's end to classify the behavior as sympathetic or empathetic.