a4a Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 ON further reflection, I think that it's difficult to develop the necessary empathy and compassion if you haven't suffered. Suffering makes the soul, they say. I don't think that is true at all. I did not live through Katrina but I still have empathy for those that did, so much so I packed up and went there to help out. To this day I still see the impact and feel empathy for those hit by this disaster. I am not a baby seal nor the mother of one, but my god I can feel empathy for both when clubbing season comes around. You do not have to be hungry to have empathy/compassion for starving people. a4a
Mz. Pixie Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 I don't think that is true at all. I did not live through Katrina but I still have empathy for those that did, so much so I packed up and went there to help out. To this day I still see the impact and feel empathy for those hit by this disaster. I am not a baby seal nor the mother of one, but my god I can feel empathy for both when clubbing season comes around. You do not have to be hungry to have empathy/compassion for starving people. a4a Empathy is possible, but it's impossible to truly understand how it is until you've truly been there.
blind_otter Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 I don't think that is true at all. I did not live through Katrina but I still have empathy for those that did, so much so I packed up and went there to help out. To this day I still see the impact and feel empathy for those hit by this disaster. I am not a baby seal nor the mother of one, but my god I can feel empathy for both when clubbing season comes around. You do not have to be hungry to have empathy/compassion for starving people. a4a This is the difference between sympath and empathy. But that is different from the level of empathy you would have had you gone through those experiences. Sympathy involves understanding that someone might feel bad. Empathy involves knowing intimately WHY someone might feel bad about a situation. I think most people are sympathetic to rape victims. But no one can truely understand what a rape victim goes through, but another survivor. Which is why they usually recommend group therapy for rape victims and adult survivors of child sexual assault. This is a common misconception, though. Please don't get defensive or pissed off at me for saying this, but in my personal experience this has been true. In my college curriculum and therapy practicums we spent a lot of time trying to understand the difference between sympathy and empathy, and how many times clients will respond resentfully and not cooperate with a sympathetic therapist because sympathy puts the sympathizer in a position above the person who is suffering.
a4a Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 I do understand the sympathy and empathy difference. Of course I have lost a home, not in a hurricane but........ I think I still have empathy there. I am not sure what you mean by sympathy or a sympathizer : and not cooperate with a sympathetic therapist because sympathy puts the sympathizer in a position above the person who is suffering. please elaborate if you do not mind? a4a
blind_otter Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 I do understand the sympathy and empathy difference. Of course I have lost a home, not in a hurricane but........ I think I still have empathy there. I am not sure what you mean by sympathy or a sympathizer : and not cooperate with a sympathetic therapist because sympathy puts the sympathizer in a position above the person who is suffering. please elaborate if you do not mind? a4a I do not feel comfortable continuing to hyjack someone's thread, so if you want to discuss this further then please let's start a new thread, as it's not fair to the OP. An occassional forray into the theoretical is alright, but not a continued effort towards a personal agenda.
Moose Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 For me, it was because I didn't want to admit I lost control of a part of my life. And that I needed someone else to help me regain it. Once I started going, I began to realize that most people aren't in full control of their life, and need to hold someone's hand now and again. Oh...and that some of the underlining problem had to do with Mrs. Moose....that was a shocker!!
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