Sympathy is the feeling of sorrow or concern for someone who is experiencing pain, hardship, or distress. It involves recognizing another person’s suffering and expressing compassion or support, even if you don’t fully understand what they’re going through. Sympathy is a deeply human response—it comes naturally when we see others in pain, hear about someone’s […]

Although the words empathy and sympathy are often used interchangeably, they describe two very different ways of responding to another person’s emotional experience. Both involve recognizing someone’s suffering or struggle, but the depth of connection and emotional involvement is what sets them apart. At their core, sympathy is about acknowledging someone else’s pain, while empathy […]

Strategic empathy is the ability to understand another person’s emotions, thoughts, and perspective—and then use that understanding to guide your response in a purposeful way. Unlike spontaneous or automatic empathy, which arises naturally, strategic empathy is intentional. It involves both emotional insight and thoughtful action, especially in situations that require problem-solving, negotiation, or conflict resolution. […]

In psychology, feelings refer to the conscious experience of emotions. They are what we become aware of when we notice that something is happening inside us. While emotions are automatic and often unconscious reactions to situations, feelings are our personal, mental interpretation of those emotional states. They give us insight into what we value, how […]

We often use the words “feelings” and “emotions” as if they mean the same thing. In everyday conversation, saying “I feel sad” or “I have an emotion of sadness” might seem interchangeable. But in psychology, there is a subtle yet meaningful difference between the two. Understanding this difference can help us become more self-aware and […]