Without empathy social interaction could not take place. It ensures that we empathize with other people and understand their situation.
What is empathy?
The term "empathy", derived from the Greek "empatheia" (empathy), stands for the ability of people to empathize with the feelings of other people and to be able to empathize with them.
Empathy is one of the most basic human qualities, without which a social community would be difficult. According to the latest findings, the ability to empathy, which is already present from infancy, arises from neurobiological contexts. In psychology, the term is often used for empathy empathy used, which is an important prerequisite for moral action.
Especially in psychological and educational professions, the ability to empathize is an important prerequisite for the profession. It is also an important requirement between the psychotherapist and the client. Psychology distinguishes between empathy, which can lead to getting too caught up in the problems of others, and compassion, a positive concern for others.
Function & task
Empathy is one of the most important skills in social interaction between people. It is an innate ability, but it is supported in its further development by early childhood experiences. Research results show that people who empathize with others activate the same areas in the brain as those of their counterparts. So we can roughly empathize from the outside with what is going on in the head of the other.
However, this means that only those who can empathize with others who can properly perceive themselves and their feelings. All people have the ability to empathize from birth, but it can only develop optimally in an environment in which a positive way of dealing with feelings is exemplified.
Empathy is also known as "intelligence of the heart". According to experts, however, some children develop insufficient empathy because their parents no longer show them enough feelings, but try to ignore negative feelings such as sadness.
Even with optimal socialization conditions, people need a certain amount of time before they are able to recognize the feelings of others. The ability to empathize begins around the age of 18 months, when children begin to differentiate themselves and other people. This age is characterized by "egocentric empathy", i. H. Children are able to show compassion, but respond with actions they would want themselves in the situation. By the age of 4, children can already distinguish whether people deserve their compassion and only comfort people who they believe deserve this comfort.
Compassion is positive not only for those who receive it, but also for those who give it to others. Various research shows that people who have compassion for others are happier and more satisfied than unhappy people. Empathy even strengthens the immune system and is even said to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
A special kind of empathy is self-compassion, in which we have understanding and compassion for our own weaknesses. However, many people struggle with this. You have a lot of compassion for other people, but not for yourself.
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Empathy is basically a very positive quality. However, people who are overly empathetic towards others often cannot separate themselves sufficiently and allow themselves to be drawn into the suffering of others. Particularly highly sensitive people can be affected, as they have a very subtle perception of other people. If they do not keep enough distance, they can be flooded by the feelings of others and no longer separate themselves adequately from them. If the empathy is too strong, it can lead to people focusing only on other people and neglecting themselves. You are then there for others until you give up yourself and run the risk of becoming chronically exhausted as a result.
Some people may not have sufficient empathy towards others because of illness. Autistic people cannot understand the emotions around them. They also often lack the ability to communicate socially.
Apathetic people are often unable to react to their environment, they often withdraw completely into themselves. This apathy can be triggered by dementia, in which the ability to perceive other people increasingly diminishes.
Narcissists are often not very empathetic, they basically have the ability to do so, but choose not to use it.
Empathy with psychopathy is very weak or not at all pronounced. People with this disease often exude an emotional coldness, show hardly any compassion, and are unable to assess the consequences of their actions for other people. They tend to disobey rules and usually want to exercise power over others. They do not regret their actions or develop sufficient feelings of guilt.
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