the word empathy is WIDELY misused, even in mental health spaces.Â
is responding to a personâs emotions by experiencing the same emotion as them (i.e. feeling sad when something sad happens to that person, or happy when something happy happens to that person.)
is an automatic response that cannot be controlled
is recognizing that another person is in pain, even if you do not experience that pain, and offering comfort to that person
is something a person must actively choose to do
is showcasing care and support via words and actions
is something a person must actively choose to do
if you need an example of a person with no empathy who practices sympathy and compassion, look no further than data from star trek: the next generation. he doesnât have emotions at all, but heâs still kind to people and wants to help them.
stop telling people that theyâre evil because they donât experience empathy. stop equating empathy with morality. stop equating empathy with caring. stop saying that cruel people âlack empathy.â stop throwing neurodivergent and mentally ill people under the bus.Â