Sympathy

Sympathy

Sympathy is a social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings. The word derives from the Greek "συμπάθεια" ("sympatheia") [ [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2398480 Sympatheia, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, "A Greek-English Lexicon", at Perseus] ] , from "συν" ("syn") "together" + "πάθος" ("pathos"), in this case "suffering" (from "πάσχω" - "pascho", "to be affected by, to suffer"). It also can mean being affected by feelings or emotions. Thus the essence of sympathy is that one has a strong concern for the other person. Sympathy should not be confused with empathy (more than simply the recognition of another's suffering, sympathy is actually sharing another's suffering, if only briefly).

Sympathy exists when the feelings or emotions of one person are deeply understood and even appreciated by another person.In common usage, sympathy is usually making known one's understanding of another's unhappiness or suffering, but it can also refer to being aware of other (positive) emotions as well. In a broader sense, it can refer to the sharing of political or ideological sentiments, such as in the phrase "a communist sympathizer".

The psychological state of sympathy is closely linked with that of compassion and empathy.

ee also

*Condolences
*Emotional intelligence
*Acceptance
*Compassion
*Empathy
*Pity

References


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  • sympathy — sym‧pa‧thy [ˈsɪmpəθi] noun 1. come out in sympathy HUMAN RESOURCES if workers come out in sympathy with workers who strike (= refuse to work), they refuse to work as well: • The truck drivers are on strike, and other employees have downed tools ( …   Financial and business terms

  • Sympathy — Sym pa*thy, n.; pl. {Sympathies}. [F. sympathie, L. sympathia, Gr. ?; sy n with + ? suffering, passion, fr. ?, ?, to suffer. See {Syn }, and {Pathos}.] 1. Feeling corresponding to that which another feels; the quality of being affected by the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sympathy — 1 *attraction, affinity Analogous words: reciprocality, correspondence (see corresponding adjectives at RECIPROCAL): *harmony, consonance, accord, concord Antonyms: antipathy 2 Sympathy, pity, compassion, commiseration, condolence, ruth, empathy… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sympathy — 1570s, affinity between certain things, from M.Fr. sympathie, from L.L. sympathia community of feeling, sympathy, from Gk. sympatheia, from sympathes having a fellow feeling, affected by like feelings, from syn together + pathos feeling (see… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Sympathy — ist ein Death Metal Projekt aus Kanada. Biografie Anfang der 90er Jahre gründete Dharok die Band Sympathy mit drei Freunden in Saskatchewan, Kanada. Zwei Jahre später, nach der ersten Demo Aufnahme und ein Debüt Album, verließen die drei Freunde… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • sympathy — [n1] shared feeling accord, affinity, agreement, alliance, attraction, benignancy, close relation, commiseration, compassion, concord, congeniality, connection, correspondence, empathy, feelings, fellow feeling, harmony, heart, kindliness,… …   New thesaurus

  • sympathy — ► NOUN (pl. sympathies) 1) feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else s misfortune. 2) understanding between people; common feeling. 3) support for or approval of something. 4) (in sympathy) relating harmoniously to something else; in keeping.… …   English terms dictionary

  • sympathy — index affinity (regard), concordance, condonation, goodwill, humanity (humaneness), lenience, pity …   Law dictionary

  • sympathy — see empathy …   Modern English usage

  • sympathy — [sim′pə thē] n. pl. sympathies [L sympathia < Gr sympatheia < syn , together + pathos, feeling: see PATHOS] 1. sameness of feeling; affinity between persons or of one person for another 2. Now Rare agreement in qualities; harmony; accord 3 …   English World dictionary

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