Empathy is the ability to know what other people are feeling, feel part of what they are feeling, and act on it. The heart is a significant component of emotional intelligence. In today’s article, we will talk about what is an empath.
Table of Contents
There are three forms of empathy:
- Cognitive empathy, which is the ability to identify what other people are feeling, their emotions, thoughts, and intentions,
- Emotional empathy, which is the ability to feel what other people are feeling.
- Behavioral empathy or benevolence is the spontaneous tendency to want to help others if they need it.
Let’s know more about what is an empath. There would be much more to say about empathy, the subject being far from exhausted and exhaustible.
What is an empath?
Etymologically, “empathy” comes from the term Einfuhlung, which refers to the projection of one person into the situation of another. This definition has evolved thanks to work carried out in different research fields such as philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience.
According to Jean Decety, neurobiologist, professor at the University of Washington, and director of the Social Cognitive Neuroscience laboratory in Seattle, empathy can only envision when the person experiences an emotional response. The emotion of others. Besides, the person must distinguish between self and others and regulate their emotional responses.
What is Sympathy?
Sympathy has a more “emotional” character in the relationship. It feels like people sharing the same emotional reality at a given moment. The person who strikes us as “nice” is a bit like our own reflection in a mirror. A priori, since she shares the same feelings as us, she seems close to us. Thus, it is possible to be sympathetic (because conveying the same emotion) and not necessarily empathetic (because I do not know who owns what I feel here and now).
Another term that revolves around the same field, compassion defines as the desire to end others’ suffering and causes. The objective is more oriented towards the notion of hell. To sympathize is to “suffer with” according to the Latin root cum patio. In compassion, there is a real conscious will feel the other’s sorrow, even if it means being confused with it.
In sympathy, there is this idea of acting to reduce the suffering that the different feels. It is, among other things, for this reason, that compassion is more often the prerogative of religion (Mother Teresa, Abbé Pierre, the Dalai Lama for the best known).
With empathy, you fundamentally understand what the other person is feeling. Also, share his emotional experience, suffer from other problems. And wish to act to alleviate or even eliminate their suffering or its causes.
It is not enough to feel an emotion to speak of empathy. The person must also be able to distinguish between their feelings and those of others. For this, it is necessary to know the source of the emotion and take the other’s perspective.
To be empath, quality, or fault?
Empaths are extraordinary and unique people for different reasons. Even if they don’t talk about it much, they are compassionate. And, if someone you love is an empath, there are several things you should know.
Empaths are susceptible to the energy and emotions of other people since they tend to absorb them. It can be very harmful to them if toxic people surround them. It is often rare to see an empath share their gift with someone, which is why those around them need to be careful.
If anyone close to you is an empath, you need to pay close attention to their behavior. Why? Because if he or she is in an unstable emotional state or needs help, the empath is never going to take the first step in asking for support.
Empaths are excellent at hiding their issues. Moreover, they have all the following ten character traits that they try to hide from their loved ones and their family.
The hidden side of empaths: what is an empath?
Being empathetic can seem like a quality. Someone loves the people around him and pays attention to them. An empath is always going to be there for those who need help or support.
For this reason, empaths tend to hide these ten facets of their personalities to protect themselves better. In this way, they try to keep a little secret garden where they can take refuge when the emotions get too intense. It is also a way of hiding their weaknesses in front of malicious people.
1. Nature is a source of youth for empaths.
Empaths love to be outdoors. They need nature to recharge their batteries because it gives them the positive energy they need to face negativity and problems. Being in character for them is like pressing the “pause” button.
It’s a way for them to forget everything that’s going on in the real world and to find each other. They can clear their minds and remain unaffected, during that time, by the emotions and feelings of others.
2. They can detect liars.
It’s no secret that empaths can read other people correctly. It is one of their exceptional ability. They can easily see behind the masks that people are wearing and spot a person’s true intentions. They are walking lie detectors!
If they realize that a person is lying, they are not necessarily going to say something. But, they will never forget what she said, and they will be on guard for the rest of their relationship.
3. Empaths have an introverted side.
Empaths need to spend time alone. They affected by the energies (positive and negative) of the people around them that the only way they can relax is to be isolated. They don’t want to sound rude, though, so they adopt an extroverted introvert attitude.
What does that mean? By nature, they are introverts but to please those close to them. They participate in extroverted activities. Besides, who is sociable and always there for important events, even if they are against their primary nature.
4. They invest too much.
Empaths are born healers. They are naturally made to help others, and sometimes they even have a hard time controlling this instinct. They put their needs and problems aside to provide support to those who seem to need it. That can create significant emotional issues and trauma.
Ignoring their feelings and emotions for too long can lead them to an unsafe or even dangerous mental state. When you pile up too many problems (yours and those of your loved ones), your mind begins to withdraw and no longer functions as it should.
5. Empaths are susceptible.
As mentioned before, empaths are born healers, so they feel like they always have to appear healthy to those around them. They hate to be a burden or a nuisance to people in one way or another. So they hide their emotions.
What they hide the most is the fact that they are hypersensitive. It means that negative emotions, pain, or grief affect them much more than it affects the person going through a difficult time. They take on their shoulders all the difficulties of others, which makes them sensitive to all types of emotions.
6. They can absorb the energy of others.
You might not notice it, but when you are having a bad day and when you feel bad, they feel bad too. Why? Because empaths can absorb the emotions of others. They also feel the pain of those close to them, to some degree.
Yet they will very rarely talk about it as they don’t want to sound crazy as our modern society likes to put a label on everyone. Anyone who deviates from the norm (good or bad) imposed by the community is seen as an outcast.
7. Empaths have a keen intuition.
Empaths are connected to their intuition, and they know how to listen and interpret it. They can make all decisions, trivial and vital, based on their instincts. They are convinced that this sixth sense that they have is a way for the universe to tell them that it is the right choice.
Empaths are very observant and notice things that a lot of people don’t even see. They have their eyes and minds open and analyze everything that is happening around them. This ability to spot what is hidden and interpret all the signs given allows them to make difficult decisions while remaining loyal.
8. They are often stressed.
Empaths tend to experience all emotions in an intensified way. As a result, they are easily overwhelmed and stressed in different situations. They are often unable to multitask as it creates too many emotions simultaneously, which makes them feel overwhelmed by feelings.
All these repercussions also hurt their health. Too many emotions play tricks on their mind but also their body. Indeed, when the mind is tired and overwhelmed, the body finds it challenging to keep up. It becomes exhausting, and the immune system weakens.
9. Empaths attract negative people.
Empaths don’t like to talk about themselves very much, but they are well aware that they are the preferred target of negative people. Toxic or manipulative people particularly appreciate empaths because they understand nature, and they forgive easily.
They absorb all the positivity that emanates from empaths and replace it with negative energy. It’s not because empaths are weak or dumb, but because they always see the right side of people, and they think they can change these toxic people and make them good people.
10. They love with a deep love
Empaths love. They care about their loved ones and society in general with real and sincere passion. When an empath loves someone (a friend or lover), it is with great respect and genuine feelings. They appreciate the people around them.
Empaths are loyal love partners and devoted friends. Indeed, they know that betrayal and lying hurt significantly, and, therefore, they do everything not to break the people who care.
FAQ
1. What is the characteristics of empath?
The first characteristic of empathy is the emotional response or affective response. Still, according to Jean Decety, in a situation of kindness, one feels similar to another person’s feeling. However, they feel the emotion still in a middle ground between the absence of an emotional response (coldness). And an overly intense emotional response, leading to distress.
Note, however, that a distinction should create between empathy, sympathy, and compassion.
2. Is empath is a quality?
An empath is always going to be there for you, especially when you need someone. Even if you don’t ask anyone directly, the person can automatically sense when something is wrong with you because someone can feel it. That’s why empaths are great friends.
However, by always being there for others, empaths tend to forget to pay attention to themselves. They put their physical, mental, and emotional health aside to help others. Even if they ask you to talk about your feelings and emotions, empaths rarely share what they are feeling.
3. What is the definition of empath?
Personality traits characterizes by the ability to feel an appropriate emotion. In response to that expressed by others, to distinguish between self and others (i.e., to be aware of the source of the feeling and to be able to decode the emotion of others), and regulate their emotional responses.
4. How do empaths love differently?
Empaths are influential people, but toxic people still tend to use them to their advantage. Indeed, as they understand and value the human soul, they see the goodness in everyone. So experienced manipulators can quickly put them in their pocket.
Therefore, to maintain their sanity, empaths need to be surrounded by sincere people with a pure heart.
Conclusion of what is an empath
In the conclusion of this post, it is essential to note that the three components of empathy are not independent of each other but, on the contrary, work together and influence each other.
There would be much more to say about empathy, the subject being far from exhausted and exhaustible. Now you know what is an empath, and how they think, behave, act, etc. If this topic interests you, let us know in the comment section.
