To understand another person's feelings from within their point of view.
Reach for it when describing an effort to grasp what an experience feels like for someone else
Good editors empathize with the confused reader before revising the instructions.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| literary |
playful
relate
Fits when shared experience creates immediate recognition
Careful Relating can center one's own similar story instead of attending to the other person.
everyday
see their side
Fits when recognizing another viewpoint matters in disagreement
Careful Seeing a side concerns reasons and fairness, not necessarily the person's feelings.
everyday
Fits when grasping the person's position is sufficient
Careful Understanding may remain intellectual and never reach the emotional perspective.
warm
sympathize
Fits when concern or pity is felt for someone's difficulty
Careful Sympathy looks toward the person; empathy tries to see from their position.
professional
identify with
Fits when a strong perceived similarity creates connection
Careful Identification can project sameness onto experiences that differ in important ways.
literary
enter into
Fits when imaginative participation suits reflective prose
Careful The expression is elevated and vague for everyday emotional support.
empathize with others
Stories can help children empathize with others without pretending every life is alike.
difficult to empathize
It was difficult to empathize until she heard the full sequence of events.
learn to empathize
The exercise helps new managers learn to empathize before offering solutions.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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