Compassion vs. Empathy: What's the Difference?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTraitsDifferencesSimilaritiesExamplesIncreasing CompassionFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Traits

Differences

Similarities

Examples

Increasing Compassion

Frequently Asked Questions

Compassion and empathy are two related terms that, while sometimes used interchangeably, have different and distinct meanings.

Empathyis about putting yourself in someone else’s position so that you can feel what they might feel in a situation.Compassion, on the other hand, is about recognizing someone’s emotionsandwanting to help them.

This article discusses the meaning of compassion vs. empathy, how they differ, and how understanding these differences can help you navigate your relationships with others more effectively.

Traits of Compassion vs. Empathy

While they are closely related, empathy and compassion are not the same. While both involve responding to other people’s emotions, they differ in focus.

Compassion is often comprised of traits and behaviors like the following:

While they differ, compassion and empathy play important roles in forming and maintaininginterpersonal relationships.

“Many of us can relate to the desire to show up and support those we care about, especially in times of suffering. We may even feel like this is a central characteristic of healthy relationships—having mutual support and being present for each other through good times and bad,” explainsMiriam Stone, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director of LifeStance Health.

Differences Between Compassion and Empathy

The differences between compassion vs. empathy include what the terms mean, the feelings they evoke, and the behaviors they inspire.

Meaning

Empathy involves the ability to understand what another person feels. It means you can imagine yourself in another person’s situation and feel what they must be feeling. Compassion evokes a sense of sympathy, concern, or pity for what other people are going through.

Emotional Response

Compassion and empathy also differ in the type of emotional response they evoke. Where empathy creates understanding, compassion is more likely to inspire feelings of concern, worry, or sympathy.

You might care about someone’s situation and feel moved to help them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you understand what they are going through.

However, it is essential to note that empathy and compassion often occur together. Empathy often acts as fuel for compassion. By empathizing with someone, you might experience feelings of compassion and a desire to help.

Effects

Compassion tends to be based on taking action, whereas empathy is rooted in feeling. Because compassion is action-based, people are more likely to feel that their efforts have been useful.

Empathy, while important, can sometimes contribute to greater feelings of burnout. Constantly feeling other people’s emotions can be overwhelming at times, and because it may not be linked to efforts to help, people may feel helpless or hopeless. In addition to causing feelings of personal distress, empathy can sometimes cause people to feel guilty or engage in avoidance behaviors, includingsocial withdrawal.

Research has also found that people are often more likely to empathize with people they relate to. This might include people they actually know or even those who are similar to them in some way.

On the other hand, compassion is something that people can extend to others without necessarily needing to have a personal connection to the situation.

CompassionInvolves sympathy and concern for someone who is sufferingLeads to action and helping behaviorsCan inspire positive feelingsCreates prosocial motivationAltruistic response to sufferingEmpathyFeeling the emotions of othersLeads to understandingMay inspire negative feelingsCan sometimes create withdrawal behaviorsAffective response to suffering

CompassionInvolves sympathy and concern for someone who is sufferingLeads to action and helping behaviorsCan inspire positive feelingsCreates prosocial motivationAltruistic response to suffering

Involves sympathy and concern for someone who is suffering

Leads to action and helping behaviors

Can inspire positive feelings

Creates prosocial motivation

Altruistic response to suffering

EmpathyFeeling the emotions of othersLeads to understandingMay inspire negative feelingsCan sometimes create withdrawal behaviorsAffective response to suffering

Feeling the emotions of others

Leads to understanding

May inspire negative feelings

Can sometimes create withdrawal behaviors

Affective response to suffering

Similarities Between Compassion and Empathy

“Burnout usually has a gradual onset in which we tend to feel physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted after having been in a prolonged state of stress,” Stone says.

Compassion can lead to a type of burnout known ascompassion fatigue. This emotional and physical exhaustion leads to reduced feelings of empathy, increased cynicism, detachment, emotional numbness, and apathy.

People who work in healthcare settings that involve prolonged exposure to other people’s suffering, such as nurses, first responders, and therapists, are more prone to experiencing compassion fatigue.

Miriam Stone, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director, LifeStance HealthWhen giving/caring/showing up for someone else feels more frustrating, stressful, and anxiety provoking for you—often to the extent that you struggle to access the empathy and compassion that once fueled your initial drive to help—it’s likely that you may be experiencing compassion fatigue.

Miriam Stone, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director, LifeStance Health

When giving/caring/showing up for someone else feels more frustrating, stressful, and anxiety provoking for you—often to the extent that you struggle to access the empathy and compassion that once fueled your initial drive to help—it’s likely that you may be experiencing compassion fatigue.

To try to prevent this, be mindful of how you are feeling. If you notice you are struggling to access your empathy and compassion, or it feels like it’s too much for you, take a step back. Remember that your mental health is also important and that you can’t help others if you don’t take care of yourself.

Examples of Compassion and Empathy

Examples of compassion vs. empathy can further illustrate some of the key differences between the two concepts.

Examples of Compassion

Examples of Empathy

How Do You Turn Empathy Into Compassion?

This doesn’t have to mean taking it upon yourself to fix other people’s problems. Instead, it is about offering the type of assistance you can provide to alleviate someone else’s pain, whether large or small. Taking such actions can also help turn the distress that empathy can sometimes create into more positive emotions that compassion can elicit.

Research has also shown thatpeople can learn to be more compassionateand that short-term compassion training can increasealtruistic behavior.

Coping With Compassion and Empathy

Prolonged exposure to other people’s pain and suffering can also contribute to feelings ofburnoutor compassion fatigue. In such cases, taking a step back and caring for yourself is essential. Stone recommends:

Miriam Stone, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director, LifeStance HealthRecognizing when you might be emotionally overextended and taking on too much is key. It will allow you to take a step back, set some healthy boundaries, and ultimately take the steps necessary to reprioritize your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Recognizing when you might be emotionally overextended and taking on too much is key. It will allow you to take a step back, set some healthy boundaries, and ultimately take the steps necessary to reprioritize your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Frequently Asked QuestionsCompassion and empathy are both important characteristics that can support positive interpersonal relationships. Empathy fosters understanding, helping people to connect on an emotional level. This plays a crucial role in helping establish trust, intimacy, and social support.However, empathy without compassion can have pitfalls. It can lead to distress and become emotionally draining. People can absorb other people’s negative emotions and find themselves feeling helpless or hopeless.In some cases, empathy can even leave people divided. Researchers have found that when people empathize with others based on shared social connections, they are more likely todehumanize others they see as part of the outgroup.Compassion is often viewed as a step beyond empathy. It focuses on taking action and alleviating distress in ways that benefit others and the self. Instead of feeling powerless, people feel less distressed, more capable, and more positive about their ability to change the world around them.Yes, you can experience empathy without feeling compassion. For example, you might empathize with a friend who is going through a difficult breakup. However, that doesn’t mean that you will necessarily be moved to help relieve their pain.In the same way, it is possible to experience compassion without necessarily feeling empathy. You can feel moved to help relieve someone’s suffering without necessarily feeling what they are feeling.For example, you might spend time with a friend to take their mind off of something they are going through, even if you don’t understand why they are upset. You might sympathize with their situation and be motivated to help them, even if you don’t really understand what they are feeling.

Compassion and empathy are both important characteristics that can support positive interpersonal relationships. Empathy fosters understanding, helping people to connect on an emotional level. This plays a crucial role in helping establish trust, intimacy, and social support.However, empathy without compassion can have pitfalls. It can lead to distress and become emotionally draining. People can absorb other people’s negative emotions and find themselves feeling helpless or hopeless.In some cases, empathy can even leave people divided. Researchers have found that when people empathize with others based on shared social connections, they are more likely todehumanize others they see as part of the outgroup.Compassion is often viewed as a step beyond empathy. It focuses on taking action and alleviating distress in ways that benefit others and the self. Instead of feeling powerless, people feel less distressed, more capable, and more positive about their ability to change the world around them.

However, empathy without compassion can have pitfalls. It can lead to distress and become emotionally draining. People can absorb other people’s negative emotions and find themselves feeling helpless or hopeless.

In some cases, empathy can even leave people divided. Researchers have found that when people empathize with others based on shared social connections, they are more likely todehumanize others they see as part of the outgroup.

Compassion is often viewed as a step beyond empathy. It focuses on taking action and alleviating distress in ways that benefit others and the self. Instead of feeling powerless, people feel less distressed, more capable, and more positive about their ability to change the world around them.

Yes, you can experience empathy without feeling compassion. For example, you might empathize with a friend who is going through a difficult breakup. However, that doesn’t mean that you will necessarily be moved to help relieve their pain.In the same way, it is possible to experience compassion without necessarily feeling empathy. You can feel moved to help relieve someone’s suffering without necessarily feeling what they are feeling.For example, you might spend time with a friend to take their mind off of something they are going through, even if you don’t understand why they are upset. You might sympathize with their situation and be motivated to help them, even if you don’t really understand what they are feeling.

In the same way, it is possible to experience compassion without necessarily feeling empathy. You can feel moved to help relieve someone’s suffering without necessarily feeling what they are feeling.

For example, you might spend time with a friend to take their mind off of something they are going through, even if you don’t understand why they are upset. You might sympathize with their situation and be motivated to help them, even if you don’t really understand what they are feeling.

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sinclair S, Beamer K, Hack TF, et al.Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients' understandings, experiences, and preferences.Palliat Med. 2017;31(5):437-447. doi:10.1177/0269216316663499Fowler Z, Law KF, Gaesser B.Against empathy bias: The moral value of equitable empathy.Psychol Sci. 2021;32(5):766-779. doi:10.1177/0956797620979965Cocker F, Joss N.Compassion fatigue among healthcare, emergency and community service workers: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(6):618. Published 2016 Jun 22. doi:10.3390/ijerph13060618Singer T, Klimecki OM.Empathy and compassion.Current Biology. 2014;24(18):R875-R878. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.054Conversano C, Ciacchini R, Orrù G, Di Giuseppe M, Gemignani A, Poli A.Mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion among health care professionals: what’s new? A systematic review.Front Psychol.2020;11:1683. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01683Zeng X, Chiu CP, Wang R, Oei TP, Leung FY.The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1693. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693Weng HY, Fox AS, Shackman AJ, et al.Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(7):1171-80. doi:10.1177/0956797612469537Waytz A, Epley N.Social connection enables dehumanization.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2012;48(1):70-76.doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2011.07.012

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sinclair S, Beamer K, Hack TF, et al.Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients' understandings, experiences, and preferences.Palliat Med. 2017;31(5):437-447. doi:10.1177/0269216316663499Fowler Z, Law KF, Gaesser B.Against empathy bias: The moral value of equitable empathy.Psychol Sci. 2021;32(5):766-779. doi:10.1177/0956797620979965Cocker F, Joss N.Compassion fatigue among healthcare, emergency and community service workers: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(6):618. Published 2016 Jun 22. doi:10.3390/ijerph13060618Singer T, Klimecki OM.Empathy and compassion.Current Biology. 2014;24(18):R875-R878. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.054Conversano C, Ciacchini R, Orrù G, Di Giuseppe M, Gemignani A, Poli A.Mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion among health care professionals: what’s new? A systematic review.Front Psychol.2020;11:1683. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01683Zeng X, Chiu CP, Wang R, Oei TP, Leung FY.The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1693. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693Weng HY, Fox AS, Shackman AJ, et al.Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(7):1171-80. doi:10.1177/0956797612469537Waytz A, Epley N.Social connection enables dehumanization.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2012;48(1):70-76.doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2011.07.012

Sinclair S, Beamer K, Hack TF, et al.Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients' understandings, experiences, and preferences.Palliat Med. 2017;31(5):437-447. doi:10.1177/0269216316663499Fowler Z, Law KF, Gaesser B.Against empathy bias: The moral value of equitable empathy.Psychol Sci. 2021;32(5):766-779. doi:10.1177/0956797620979965Cocker F, Joss N.Compassion fatigue among healthcare, emergency and community service workers: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(6):618. Published 2016 Jun 22. doi:10.3390/ijerph13060618Singer T, Klimecki OM.Empathy and compassion.Current Biology. 2014;24(18):R875-R878. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.054Conversano C, Ciacchini R, Orrù G, Di Giuseppe M, Gemignani A, Poli A.Mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion among health care professionals: what’s new? A systematic review.Front Psychol.2020;11:1683. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01683Zeng X, Chiu CP, Wang R, Oei TP, Leung FY.The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1693. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693Weng HY, Fox AS, Shackman AJ, et al.Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(7):1171-80. doi:10.1177/0956797612469537Waytz A, Epley N.Social connection enables dehumanization.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2012;48(1):70-76.doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2011.07.012

Fowler Z, Law KF, Gaesser B.Against empathy bias: The moral value of equitable empathy.Psychol Sci. 2021;32(5):766-779. doi:10.1177/0956797620979965

Cocker F, Joss N.Compassion fatigue among healthcare, emergency and community service workers: a systematic review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(6):618. Published 2016 Jun 22. doi:10.3390/ijerph13060618

Singer T, Klimecki OM.Empathy and compassion.Current Biology. 2014;24(18):R875-R878. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.054

Conversano C, Ciacchini R, Orrù G, Di Giuseppe M, Gemignani A, Poli A.Mindfulness, compassion, and self-compassion among health care professionals: what’s new? A systematic review.Front Psychol.2020;11:1683. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01683

Zeng X, Chiu CP, Wang R, Oei TP, Leung FY.The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1693. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693

Weng HY, Fox AS, Shackman AJ, et al.Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(7):1171-80. doi:10.1177/0956797612469537

Waytz A, Epley N.Social connection enables dehumanization.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2012;48(1):70-76.doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2011.07.012

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Traits of Compassion vs. Empathy#

Differences Between Compassion and Empathy#

Meaning#

Emotional Response#

Effects#

Similarities Between Compassion and Empathy#

Miriam Stone, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director, LifeStance Health#

Examples of Compassion and Empathy#

Examples of Compassion#

Examples of Empathy#

How Do You Turn Empathy Into Compassion?#

Coping With Compassion and Empathy#