What does the Greek word empathy mean?
in feeling
Empathy, which literally translates as “in feeling,” is the capability to share another being’s emotions and feelings. The English word is derived from the Greek word empatheia (“physical affection, passion, partiality”) which comes from en (“in, at”) + pathos (“feeling”).
What is the literal meaning of the word empathy?
1 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner also : the capacity for this.
Which is the best dictionary definition of empathy?
English Language Learners Definition of empathy : the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions : the ability to share someone else’s feelings : the understanding and sharing of the emotions and experiences of another person He has great empathy toward the poor.
How is empathy related to compassion and empathy?
Empathy is a complex capability enabling individuals to understand and feel the emotional states of others, resulting in compassionate behavior. Empathy requires cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and moral capacities to understand and respond to the suffering of others. Compassion is a tender response to the perception of another’s suffering.
What does it mean to have somatic empathy?
Somatic empathy involves having a sort of physical reaction in response to what someone else is experiencing. People sometimes physically experience what another person is feeling. When you see someone else feeling embarrassed, for example, you might start to blush or have an upset stomach.
What are some examples of empathy in life?
For example, if your friend loses her iPad and you feel really sad along with her… that’s empathy. If your friend loses her iPad and you tell her “Wow, that’s a bummer,” but you don’t feel bad yourself, that’s showing sympathy. With empathy, you have a more personal understanding or share someone else’s emotions.