The primary distinction between sympathy and compassion is that sympathy means understanding what another person is experiencing, while compassion involves a willingness to alleviate the suffering of others. Although many people tend to use the terms pity, empathy, sympathy, and compassion interchangeably, these words have distinct meanings and are not synonymous with each other. Compassion indicates a higher degree of involvement with the distress of others than sympathy.
Key Takeaways
- Sympathy refers to understanding and caring for someone else’s suffering.
- Compassion involves understanding another’s distress and having the desire to alleviate it.
- Compassion indicates a higher degree of involvement than sympathy.
What is Sympathy?
Sympathy involves feelings of sorrow and pity for someone else’s misfortune, or more specifically, understanding the distress or needs of another person. We often confuse sympathy with empathy, which involves actually feeling what another person is feeling. In contrast, sympathy involves understanding what someone else is experiencing, but not necessarily feeling it ourselves. For example, when a friend’s parent passes away, we might not actually feel the emotions our friend is experiencing, but we can sympathize with them, understanding that they are feeling sad and desolate. This is why we send sympathy cards when someone loses a loved one – to show that we understand their suffering, even if we may not feel the same pain.
What is Compassion?
Compassion is the sympathetic awareness of others’ distress, combined with a desire to alleviate it. Compassion goes beyond sympathy, not only recognizing a person’s suffering but feeling a strong compulsion to ease that suffering. For instance, when we see a beggar child on the street, we may recognize their need for help and then act to help them. The initial act of understanding the child’s situation can be considered sympathy; however, when we feel compassionate, we’ll automatically feel the desire to alleviate the child’s suffering. This willingness to act to ease another’s suffering is the main difference between sympathy and compassion.
Compassion is associated with qualities such as patience, wisdom, kindness, and perseverance, and is often the main component of altruism. An act of compassion can be defined by its helpful nature.
What is the Difference Between Sympathy and Compassion?
The key difference between sympathy and compassion lies in the level of involvement. Sympathy involves understanding and caring for someone else’s suffering, while compassion involves understanding another’s distress and wanting to alleviate it. Compassion indicates a higher degree of involvement than sympathy.
Summary – Sympathy vs Compassion
Sympathy and compassion are two terms that describe our reactions to the plight of others. The main difference between sympathy and compassion is that sympathy involves understanding what another person is feeling, while compassion involves understanding their suffering and wanting to relieve it.
