Perception of, understanding of, and reaction to the distress or need of another being
For other uses, see Sympathy (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Empathy.
Sympathy is the perception of, understanding of, and reaction to the distress or need of another life form.[1]
According to philosopher David Hume, this sympathetic concern is driven by a switch in viewpoint from a personal perspective to the perspective of another group or individual who is in need. Hume explained that this is the case because "the minds of all men are similar in their feelings and operations" and that "the motion of one communicates itself to the rest" so that as "affections readily pass from one person to another… they beget correspondent movements."[2]
Along with Hume, two other men, Adam Smith and Arthur Schopenhauer, worked to better define sympathy. Hume was mostly known for epistemology, Smith was known for his economic theory, and Schopenhauer for the philosophy of the will.[3]
American professor Brené Brown views sympathy as a way to stay out of touch with one's emotions. They attempt to make sense out of the situation and see it from the person receiving the sympathy's perception.[4]
^Tear, J; Michalska, KJ (2010). "Neurodevelopmental changes in the circuits underlying empathy and sympathy from childhood to adulthood". Developmental Science. 13 (6): 886–899. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00940.x. PMID 20977559. S2CID 10647101.
^Hume, David (1739). "II.III.1 Of the Other Virtues and Vices". Treatise of Human Nature.
^Wispé, L. (1991). The psychology of sympathy. Springer Science & Business Media.
^Psychiatric Medical Care Communications Team (12 October 2022). "The Difference between Empathy and Sympathy". Psychiatric Medical Care.
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