Mastering Empathy and Compassion
The distinctiveness of empathy and compassion-and The importance of both.
Charles Darwin, known for his “survival of the fittest” theory, also proposed a “sympathy hypothesis.” He observed that nurturing children, creating flourishing communities, and building the civilization we have today require sympathy – what we call compassion today.
Empathy and compassion are innate aspects of humanity, ingrained in us through evolution to aid our survival. When we witness suffering, our brain activates the areas related to threat detection and nurturing. It also affects the vagus nerve, which controls the heart and lungs, as well as the brain’s reward centers. Kind acts actually trigger the release of pleasure-inducing chemicals in our brain.
However, there is a distinction between empathy and compassion that is important to understand, especially for leaders. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of compassion versus empathy in business can be the difference between creating a productive, trusting team or experiencing burnout by letting too much slide.
Undertanding Empathy
Empathy is the experience of feeling the emotions of another person. It is not only an awareness of those feelings but also an understanding. It is a visceral, automatic reaction that happens in both our brains and our bodies, activating certain nerves and causing parasympathetic reactions that we may not be aware of. It is similar to compassion in this regard, but this is where the comparison of compassion versus empathy ends.
In psychology, there are two types of empathy: emotional empathy and cognitive empathy. Emotional empathy is the type we discussed, identifying with another person’s emotions and experiencing distress in response. Cognitive empathy means understanding another person’s viewpoint, attitudes, and beliefs through knowledge rather than emotion. Cognitive empathy is closely connected to emotional intelligence and is more of a skill, whereas emotional empathy is a gut feeling.
Both types of empathy are essential for leaders because they help us connect with others, make better decisions by considering other perspectives, and influence others to follow us. These qualities define great leadership.
Diffeewnces Between Empathy and Compassion
While there are several distinctions between compassion versus empathy, empathy usually precedes compassion. Initially, you will identify with another person’s emotions and may even share in their suffering – that is empathy. Then, you will be inspired to take significant action and do something – that is compassion.
Both empathy and compassion are emotions, but with compassion, there is more distance between you and the suffering you are witnessing. You are capable of taking a step back and asking yourself what you can do to assist. Compassion is the ability to be conscious of suffering – without ignoring or avoiding it, but also without becoming entirely immersed in it. It enables us to embrace suffering and make it part of our quest for spiritual well-being.
The brief response to “What is the difference between empathy and compassion?” is this: Empathy is a visceral feeling that we frequently cannot control, whereas compassion is a conscious action. Can you have compassion without empathy? Not really. You may be able to perform kind acts, but if you do not feel them in your soul, it is not true compassion.
The Ups and Downs of Empathy
When it comes to the debate of empathy vs. compassion, neither one is all good or all bad. Empathy is a crucial aspect of human survival, as it helps us understand others and build healthy relationships that contribute to a fulfilling life. It’s the first step towards compassion, which has numerous benefits.
However, empathy is not without its issues. It is susceptible to cognitive biases, which means that we are more likely to empathize with people who are similar to us and to project our emotions onto those who are different. Studies have shown that in situations of extreme conflict, people don’t lack empathy; rather, they have high empathy for their own group and low empathy for the opposing group. Blindly experiencing the feelings of those around us can cloud our judgment and lead to poor decisions.
Empathy can also lead to emotional exhaustion. When we constantly immerse ourselves in the emotions of others, we leave little room for our own emotions. It’s crucial to avoid feeling sad, angry, or lonely. Whether it’s empathy or compassion, we need to learn to control our emotions instead of drowning in them.
The Pros and Cons of Compassion
Compassion differs from empathy in that it requires taking action. This is also its main advantage: giving back can reduce depression and anxiety, decrease stress levels, and increase confidence and self-esteem, among other benefits.
The downsides of compassion and empathy are similar. Too much compassion can lead to “compassion fatigue,” which is often seen in helping professions like nursing and caregiving. It can cause physical symptoms such as anxiety, depression, inability to concentrate, aggression, and detachment from reality.
Another disadvantage of compassion is that it’s easy to be too compassionate. Because compassion is about doing what’s best for someone, it’s not always easy. When we choose to do what’s “nice” rather than what’s compassionate, we may enable bad habits, surround ourselves with people who aren’t good for us, and inhibit our personal growth, which can increase suffering instead of alleviating it.
The Importance of Cultivating Empathy and Compassion in Our Lives
When it comes to the debate of empathy vs. compassion, which one is more important? The truth is, both are necessary, but both can also harm us if not handled properly. Empathy is a powerful part of being human, but if left unchecked, it can work against us. Compassion is what motivates us to take action when we see suffering, but if we do too much, we may forget to take care of ourselves.
When properly balanced, both empathy and compassion can make us better leaders. Empathy fosters rapport and builds trust in the workplace, which creates a strong foundation for a cohesive team. Compassion allows us to objectively manage our team’s behavior for the greater good, helping each member overcome personal obstacles. It gives us the desire to see our team succeed and the ability to act on that desire.
Ultimately, the difference between empathy and compassion is less important than our ability to cultivate both of these skills in order to lead a fulfilling life. Are we willing to lead with both empathy and compassion?
