How empathetic are you..All the time? Sometimes? Not at all?

by FreedomFrog 27 Replies latest jw friends

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  FreedomFrog

  I'm doing my Psychology assignment tonight and I had to do a report on these questions.

  Consider a person that you have strong negative feelings about:

  If you found out you were wrong, would you be willing to change the opinion you have held?

  Would you be willing to make an effort to change the basic relationship?

  How would you go about changing the relationship?

  Have you ever had a strong dislike for a person, to the point of what they liked you didn't like (and visa versa) just because you couldn't stand them? I have a few and this assignment made me think. Most of the time I'm empathetic towards people but there are a few that if I found out were right and I was wrong, it would be very hard for me to admit it.

  With these few people as an example, I am not as empathetic as I believed I was. To be empathetic is also the ability to understand a person's perspective even with strong negative feelings floating around...WOW. That is hard.

  Of course my assignment was much more involved but it made me realize that sure, I can be empathetic when it's with someone else dealing with a problem not relating to me but if that person was my problem...then my empathetic level changes.

  ~Unempathetic Froggy~
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  changeling

  You can be empathetic (understand where another person is coming from) and not like the person.

  You can empathize w/o agreeing on the issue at hand.

  You can agree with someone on a particular issue w/o liking them as a whole.

  You can also disagree with someone you do like.

  Empathy and liking someone to not have to go hand in hand.

  changeling
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  wings

  Empathy and liking someone to not have to go hand in hand

  I agree with this, however, I believe compassion is diluted by disliking someone. So empathy would be more of an effort, more of a conscience decision.
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  FreedomFrog

  Empathy and liking someone to not have to go hand in hand.

  I agree and I didn't think I put those together...or at least I didn't mean to...but to have empathy for someone you can't stand is a challenge.
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  flipper

  FREEDOM FROG- Good thread ! I have empathy for people most all the time - unless they are intentional a - holes.Then I find it difficult
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  changeling

  Wings: I agree in a way, but I don't think empathy and compassion are the same thing. Empathy is understanding where a person is coming from, compassion is deeper, it's what moves you to help that person.

  Though it's easier to have compassion for a friend rather than a foe, it is possible. In fact, those who deal compassionately with their enemies are more to be admired than those who reserve compassion for thier freinds.

  changeling
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  FreedomFrog

  Empathy is understanding where a person is coming from, compassion is deeper

  Exactly....

  To see someone's perspective (or have empathy) that you dislike quite a bit takes a lot of self control which I'm finding out I have very little of.
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  R.Crusoe

  Put me in a room with a person who has ruined my life so I see they meant me no harm or regretted any harm they caused but wanted to work with what remains and I will give myself. But just sorry and goodbye is not something I can give to!
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  changeling

  Have you guys done any Myers/Briggs personality profiling in your class? If you want a good test, here's one: humanmetrics.com. It will help you see why you are who you are.

  changeling (enfj)
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  wings

  I agree, compassion is the next level. The motivation from empathy. Still, with someone you dislike, it takes effort and focus.