Okay, I'd like to know, in as simple of terms as possible, what is empathy?

Is it a feeling? How do you know you're feeling empathy and not something else? What do you typically do when you feel it? Could you provide an example?

Please and thank you.

[sarahsweets]

Hey @theoretical I thought this was a really good way of describing empathy.

Originally Posted by theoretical

Okay, I'd like to know, in as simple of terms as possible, what is empathy?

Is it a feeling? How do you know you're feeling empathy and not something else? What do you typically do when you feel it? Could you provide an example?

Please and thank you.

What is Empathy?
The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.

Contemporary researchers often differentiate between two types of empathy: “Affective empathy” refers to the sensations and feelings we get in response to others’ emotions; this can include mirroring what that person is feeling, or just feeling stressed when we detect another’s fear or anxiety. “Cognitive empathy,” sometimes called “perspective taking,” refers to our ability to identify and understand other people’s emotions. Studies suggest that people with autism spectrum disorders have a hard time empathizing.

Empathy seems to have deep roots in our brains and bodies, and in our evolutionary history. Elementary forms of empathy have been observed in our primate relatives, in dogs, and even in rats. Empathy has been associated with two different pathways in the brain, and scientists have speculated that some aspects of empathy can be traced to mirror neurons, cells in the brain that fire when we observe someone else perform an action in much the same way that they would fire if we performed that action ourselves. Research has also uncovered evidence of a genetic basis to empathy, though studies suggest that people can enhance (or restrict) their natural empathic abilities.

Having empathy doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll want to help someone in need, though it’s often a vital first step toward compassionate action.

[bpcyclist]

I am a huge fan of shame and empathy researcher Brenee Brown's definition and thinking on all this stuff:

"Rarely does a response make something better. What makes something better is connection."

The 4 Key Steps To Showing Empathy According To Brown

1. Perspective taking--putting yourself in someone else's shoes.
2. Staying out of judgement and listening.
3. Recognizing emotion in another person that you have maybe felt before.
4. Communicating that you can recognize that emotion.

At the end of the day, empathy is connection with another human being. It is being willing to "sit in it" with another person, even when you don't have all the answers.

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

"Rarely does a response make something better. What makes something better is connection."

Yeah, I think I'm missing the connection part of it usually. The vast majority of the time, it feels like I'm mimicking the displays of empathy simply because it's expected of me to do so. Or if I'm feeling especially generous, because I enjoy problem solving and their issues are interesting. Either way, I listen and recognize their emotions, but I don't feel anything in response.

I do think I made a connection with someone, though, so I'm starting to wonder if it's possible.

[nicoleflynn]

My simple understanding is that empathy is the ability to be able to feel another's feelings.

[TishaBuv]

Have you ever seen Bambi?

When I was two, my mom took me to see the movie. There was a scene where a hunter kills Bambi’s mother (sorry for the spoiler). I freaked out and was screaming, “Run, Bambi!” I was inconsolable when she got shot and he was crying because he lost his mother. It was quite traumatic for a two year old to handle.

I felt the emotions Bambi was feeling. That is empathy. No one taught me as I was only two. I simply had empathy.

I have seen Bambi, though I don't remember watching it.

I've cried over characters dying in films. I'm not really sure what to make of it. Maybe it's simply because fictional stories are highly exaggerated and designed with the specific purpose of arousing emotion. Also, there's no external distraction.

I often used this as evidence that I was normal, because I can cry so easily over stupid stuff like the death of a comic book character. But I can also watch really horrendous films minutes before going to bed and sleep like a baby. I don't think that's normal.

[Fuzzybear]

Interesting question and answers. I also watched Bambi when I was little and was inconsolable. Black Beauty was another..