What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

Question

Accepted Answer

Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, while empathy is understanding and sharing their feelings.

Sympathy is acknowledging someone's pain, but not necessarily feeling it yourself.
Empathy involves putting yourself in someone else's shoes and experiencing their emotions.
Sympathy can sometimes come across as insincere or patronizing.
Empathy is a key component of effective communication and building strong relationships.
Example: You can sympathize with a friend who lost their job, but empathy involves understanding their feelings of fear, uncertainty, and disappointment.
Example: A doctor can sympathize with a patient's pain, but empathy involves truly understanding their experience and providing compassionate care.

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