Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings and experiences of others. It involves being sensitive to and attuned to others' emotions and viewpoints and being able to imagine oneself in their situation. Empathy involves not only recognizing others' emotions but also experiencing them to some degree. It is an important characteristic for building healthy relationships, effective communication, and promoting social harmony.

When to use it

People use empathy when they want to understand and share the feelings of another person. Empathy is typically used in situations where someone is experiencing difficult emotions or facing a challenging situation, and another person wants to show support and understanding. For example, a friend might use empathy to comfort someone who has experienced a loss, or a therapist might use empathy to help someone process their feelings about a difficult experience. Empathy is also important in many professional contexts, such as healthcare and education, where understanding and responding to others' emotions is a critical aspect of the job.

Example sentences

  1. The therapist showed empathy towards her patient's struggles.
  2. It's important to show empathy towards others, especially in difficult times.
  3. She lacked empathy towards her coworkers, leading to conflict in the workplace.
  4. The movie's emotional scenes elicited empathy from the audience.
  5. Empathy allows us to understand and connect with people from different backgrounds.
  6. Many believe that empathy is a key trait for successful leaders.
  7. Lack of empathy can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
  8. Research suggests that empathy can be increased through practice and exposure to diverse perspectives.
  9. Some people have a natural ability to feel empathy, while others have to work at it.
  10. Expressing empathy in our relationships can improve communication and deepen connections.

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Reference:

empathy
1. the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining…
Cambridge Dictionary
Empathy Definition | What Is Empathy
The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Contemporary researchers often diff…
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