Empathy: Definition, Examples, and ExplanationWhat is empathy? Empathy is defined as the ability to step into another person's shoes—to feel what they're feeling and understand their perspective.
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What is Empathy? (Empathy Definition)Empathy refers to our ability to understand and share the feelings of another. When you are empathetic, you put yourself in another person’s shoes, make an effort to see the world from their perspective, and feel the emotions that they feel.
Researchers often differentiate between “affective empathy” (the emotions we feel when empathizing with others’ emotions) and “cognitive empathy,” (our mental ability to understand other people’s perspectives and emotions). Some suggest that cognitive empathy may be more beneficial for our well-being given we don't really want to walk around absorbing other people's negative emotions all the time. Some people also suggest a third type of empathy: somatic empathy. This is when one person experiences the physical sensations another person is experiencing. I experienced this once when a friend was giving a talk and completely bombed in front of everyone. I literally started experiencing panic symptoms right along with my friend. It was intense! Here’s a Cute Video Defining Empathy:Why Is It Important to Have Empathy?When you can understand where other people are coming from, it becomes easier to treat people with compassion and kindness, which can result in stronger and healthier relationships that are based on mutual understanding. If we have little empathy, we can end up focused only on ourselves and our happiness, which doesn't tend to be good for well-being. But when you work to enhance the experiences of others, you're more likely to experience a more fulfilling flavor of happiness.
Signs of EmpathySome people naturally tend to more empathetic than others. Here are some signs that you are a highly empathetic person:
Being empathetic has both pros and cons. It can make for strong relationships because you really care about understanding and being there for people. But heightened empathy can also result in difficulty regulating emotions and becoming overwhelmed by them. Are You a Therapist, Coach, or Wellness Entrepreneur?
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Expressing gratitude, both for experiences and towards people, helps you appreciate and value them more. As result, you can more easily put yourself in their shoes.
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Gratitude is the process by which we feel or express thanks to someone or something in our lives. In this activity, you learn one way to practice gratitude for others.
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Articles Related to Empathy
Want to learn more about empathy? Check out these articles:
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- Random Acts of Kindness: List of 99+ Ideas & Examples
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Books Related to Empathy
If you’d like to keep learning more about empathy, here are a few books that you might be interested in.
- Empath: A Complete Guide for Developing Your Gift and Finding Your Sense of Self
- Train Your Empathy: How to Cultivate the Single Most Important Relationship Skill
- Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It
- Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion
- Empathy Is Your Superpower: A Book About Understanding the Feelings of Others (For Kids)
Final Thoughts on Empathy
Empathy is a mixed bag when it comes to well-being. It is great for relationships to be able to tell what others are feeling. But when we are too empathetic, we might absorb others' emotions and end up constantly putting other people above ourselves. This is why empathy is an important topic and a skill that needs to be honed over time.
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