What type of person are you? Empathy VS Sympathy?
By Secret
@IntrovertShy (2780)
Marikina, Philippines
March 24, 2012 1:13am CST
Empathy means understanding what they feel, but not emotional express while Sympathy means understand what they feel and share the similar feelings to the person.
I always have empathy for some people I knew. I do not get easily pity and still, it depends on situation. I always understand their situation, but sometimes being too much empathetic person means people perceive you as a heart of stone. Some people perceive you that way, because there is no emotional involve. They just understand what you feel and that is it. I do not know – maybe, they did not know what is in your mind or you can easily fake it or I do not know.
Unlike sympathy, you really show your compassion because both of you have similar feelings.
Now, I am just wondering if being too much empathy is also good or it is better to have sympathy to the person. Whenever I post on other forum and I explain the objective details I have in mind to the person who is asking for help, some of the members perceive me as “no heart” at all.
So, how about you? What kind of person are you? Are you a sympathetic type of person or empathetic type of person? Do you think being a sympathetic type of person is better than empathetic type of person? How do you perceive both of them?
2 people like this
14 responses
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
7 Jul 12
Is it possible to be both? I think I am both sympathetic and empathetic. I find that for some people I am sympathetic whereas for some people I am empathetic. I think you too are both. You will feel sympathy for people you know or family whereas for people you don’t know more of empathy? Am I right?
1 person likes this
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
26 Apr 12
Yeah. Hi hi hi 
me too. I am empathy type of person. Even if some people who knew me on forum thought I am rude, deep within me is I do not do any harm to other people.
me too. I am empathy type of person. Even if some people who knew me on forum thought I am rude, deep within me is I do not do any harm to other people.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
24 Mar 12
I am an Empathetic for sure because when I feel someones pain, boy do I feel it, even when I don't want to.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
7 May 12
Oh yes. It is a different feeling that is so difficult to ignore. I sometimes feel that way and even if I denied it a hundred times, it still shows on my eyes and body language. He he
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
24 Mar 12
I can display both of these traits, but mostly empathy. Usually I'm able to observe that a person is bothered by something and exactly what is bothering them by their eyes and body language. Sympathy doesn't come as easy for me unless I can't relate to why the person feels the way that they do.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
7 May 12
It says action speaks louder than words. You will just see it through eyes and body language. That is so great. It means you can also read what is in their heart even though they do not say the word even though, being empathetic person is your mostly dominant quality.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
7 May 12
Oh yes. We need both of them and we must balance them both. True friends need sympathy if they have problems. Of course, they are friends unlike strangers whom you did not even know. We do not know if a stranger will tell the truth or not… he he
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
12 Jul 12
Overall, most of the time I would say I have always been more Sympathetic with people if I could relate. At other times I would say Empathetic, but lately with having so many issues with so many people out there constantly trying to take advantage because my husband and I are so nice, sometimes it is becoming hard to be either. I feel depending on the individual or situation it just has to always depend on what my heart and guy feelings tell me is the Best.
@preethaanju (3000)
• India
24 Mar 12
I do feel sympathetic with people who are lesser blessed than me. But i dont generally show it off. I rather help them discreetly than make an exhibition of it.
@preethaanju (3000)
• India
24 Mar 12
I do feel sympathetic with people who are lesser blessed than me. But i dont generally show it off. I rather help them discreetly than make an exhibition of it.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
30 Apr 12
Me too. I am shy to show it off if I feel sympathy for those people who also suffered, but that is not always the case. It really depends on the situation. I really would not show it, but sometimes I also denied it if someone asked me.
@shirley2all (141)
• China
24 Mar 12
I am not sure what type I am. It depends. I feel empathy to those who is suffering some situations I never experienced but I do feel sympathetic to those that I have same experience as.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
30 Apr 12
…when I was a teenager, I was prone to a sympathetic type of person. I even bring old clothes to the poor. Days goes by, I feel that I am now prone to a empathetic type of person rather than sympathetic type of person. I also feel sympathy, but it is not the same as before. It has many factors why I changed that way. He he he and even if I feel pity to some people who had the same experience as me, I still try hard to be “empathetic type of person” but the heart would not really lie at all. I sometimes do feel sympathetic to some people who experienced pain and suffering. Yeah, it all depends.
and even if I feel pity to some people who had the same experience as me, I still try hard to be “empathetic type of person” but the heart would not really lie at all. I sometimes do feel sympathetic to some people who experienced pain and suffering. Yeah, it all depends.
@alquizar (480)
• Philippines
24 Mar 12
I am a nurse by profession..As much as possible I should have both..As what I can evaluate my self I think I had both qualities having empathy and a symphaty and all of us must have that quality especially that we are dealing with different types of person in life.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
30 Apr 12
We deal different personality and character on each people that is why it is also good if we choose both qualities especially if you are a nurse. There some patients who are extremely sensitive and can easily influence you a lot. Some patients that are extremely insensitive too and so, it is true that these both qualities of being empathy and sympathy must practice in dealing to a different people that has different character behavior and personality.
@safety69 (592)
• Taiwan
24 Mar 12
I think I am Sympathetic type, I can treat people as I knew them from before without any shy and I welcome them to share my activities very fast. But , in some cases is not that good , because we can find people who are not sincere and can hurt us, it did happend to me sometimes. Can we have a mix of both personalities? that will lead us to a balance, it will help also to the Empathetic type . Dont you think? if we are too rude in our answers, some people are very sencible and might get hurt as I explained before. So a balance between the two personalities will be great .
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
30 Apr 12
Hihi yes, it will be great if we balance between the two personalities, the empathetic and sympathetic type. How I wish I could do that. It seems that empathetic type is more prone to me than being a sympathetic type of person. I do not know why though I am also a sympathetic type of person, but not too much. Sometimes I am being extreme empathetic but I am trying to control it as much as possible. Maybe It is difficult for me to “trust” someone even though I know that person and it might be the reason why it is prone to me for being empathetic type of person.
yes, it will be great if we balance between the two personalities, the empathetic and sympathetic type. How I wish I could do that. It seems that empathetic type is more prone to me than being a sympathetic type of person. I do not know why though I am also a sympathetic type of person, but not too much. Sometimes I am being extreme empathetic but I am trying to control it as much as possible. Maybe It is difficult for me to “trust” someone even though I know that person and it might be the reason why it is prone to me for being empathetic type of person.
@vertu007 (683)
• Romania
24 Mar 12
I don't thing as humans we can be totally sympathetic or empathetic because we have emotions.
It depends on the situation, I have sympathy for people but I don't really show it and I try to give them an objective advice so I may seem heartless. I think that in order to understand someone you have to put yourself in their shoes, and that involves some feeling. Then you can choose to say something objective or not.
I usually tell people what I would do in their place and what they should do so I express my thoughts in both manners but I also like to specify that it is just an idea and they should still do what they think it's best.
I believe this process is useful because maybe they can see things from another point of view, maybe one that they missed and ca easily solve the problem.
At the end of the day we are human so we should feel, but if we get to involved we can't be of much use, so you need to kind of mix the two.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
30 Apr 12
Sometimes being extreme sympathetic can lead us danger. Not always. It is because there are also some people who take advantage because they knew that you are easily get pity because of the situation. It is true that mixing two qualities still works the best.
@KingXerxes (45)
• Philippines
28 Apr 13
I'm a Empathy person.
People judge other people its because they do not empathized with that other person and does not know what situation that person is facing. The fact is you cannot be good in empathy if you are a type " A person ". and with a low knowledge about proper communication its a matter of psychology and psychiatric approach.
