Do you think there are several different kinds of "empathy"?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206590)
Walnut Creek, California
February 8, 2024 12:25pm CST
Empathy is defined as "the ability to share or understand the feelings of another," or something like that (Horse-Human Translation Dictionary, 2024). When people talk about empathy, the emphasis is on the feelings of others.
But what about the thoughts of others? Or the visual perspective of others? Do understanding those count as empathy? Or are there other words to describe being able to "get" another's line of reasoning, or to understand what another is perceiving?
An example of the latter occurred when I was driving with Ms Horse several years ago. She was "shotgun." She said, "Look at those pretty deer!" I said "Where?" as I watched the road and other cars carefully. "Over there!" she said, somehow expecting me to know where to look. I remember being frustrated and thinking, "Man, this girl is lacking in visual-spatial empathy. I'm glad she's not an air traffic controller." Is there a better term than "empathy" for this situation?
An example of the former would be me saying, "Use you right hand--the hand further away from me" to a five-year piano student. I say "the hand further away from me" because I am aware that many five-year-olds cannot quickly differentiate their left hand from their right. I call it "cognitive empathy." But is there a better term?
What do you think? Are there several kinds of empathy? Can you think of examples similar to mine?
Photo is of road from Yellowstone to Bozeman. Can you see the pretty deer? Me (n)either.
14 people like this
11 responses
@Chellezhere (5363)
• United States
8 Feb
I think they are different ways of showing the same empathy.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5363)
• United States
9 Feb
@TheHorse I think it is the same empathy adapted per the situation.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206590)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Feb
@Chellezhere But I bet there are air traffic controllers, good with spatial skills, who aren't particularly good at reading emotions. And good therapists (listeners) who hardly know right from left.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40610)
• United States
8 Feb
There is a kind of empathy when you can feel the thoughts of others while messaging. This works best with people you know well.
There is another kind where you can see the way people think. This is especially true of political people. I often wonder why others can't see what I see in political people. I don't want to start a war here so won't name political figures or my first impressions of them but I don't know why others can't see the same thing.
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@TheHorse (206590)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Feb
I read a book called The Psychopath Test (if I recall correctly), given to me by a student at the College. It argued that some people (perhaps like the one you're thinking of) can "understand" what others may think, without emotionally identifying with it. They learn how to exploit it.
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@BarBaraPrz (45594)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 Feb
Did you look to see where she was pointing when she said over there?
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@BarBaraPrz (45594)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Feb
@TheHorse Yeah, Juanita often thinks I should be looking where she is, points things out after we've passed them, or if we're stopped at a light anything that is blocked from my line of vision by the area between the windshield and door post...
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206590)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Feb
@BarBaraPrz LOL! That's a good example. I enjoy watching little kids learn that you can't see exactly what they see because they're at a different angle. What's cute, though, is that even a 2-year-old will (usually) turn their art work toward you so you can see it, not them. That implies some kind of visual-spatial empathy.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (58243)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Feb
I have only known empathy to be based around emotions. I've heard other terms used, such as esp (extra sensory perception) to describe what you did. And, other words I can't get to come to mind at the moment.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40610)
• United States
8 Feb
@TheHorse I think if you store all the bits and pieces in your memory, after a while they form a pattern and explain what will happen next. So ESP might be a culmination of all that has gone on before and projects what may happen in the future. Just saying, who knows, I am probably wrong but I have made predictions that way.
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@crossbones27 (48480)
• Mojave, California
9 Feb
There is different for situation, not sure there is many kinds. That would apply people did nor care. In my mind anyway. I wonder if they will teach us learned behavior or whats in people's heart. I think most people are not that good and if it was not for teaching world would be a living mess.
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@crossbones27 (48480)
• Mojave, California
11 Feb
@TheHorse If you say so, maybe I am just made funny.
@RasmaSandra (73751)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Feb
I couldn't think of any or how to put it in words but I got curious and this is what I found
Dive into the three types of empathy: emotional, cognitive, and compassionate. Emotional intelligence empowers you in varying situations and relationships.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15746)
• Raurkela, India
9 Feb
When we understand each other's feelings it's empathy but what's going on in somebody's mind is difficult to know and some people have strange ways of expressing.
@LindaOHio (157243)
• United States
9 Feb
I only know one kind of empathy. Your Discussion does bring on a lot of other possibilities for thought. Have a good day.
