Alexander Case
Carole Center
11/9/20
English Paper 3
Ability to understand others
Understanding others does not mean that you must agree with their feelings or point of view. Instead, it means that you recognize their point of view and accept that it is different from yours. You may still have to do difficult things that others do not agree with but hopefully both you and they understand that. Having empathy is very useful as it often helps to understand others so we can help or deceive them, but sometimes we need to be able to switch off our empathetic feelings to protect our own lives, and those of others. These are cognitive, emotional and compassionate empathy. This page explains what is meant by each of these types of empathy. It also explains how and why it is possible to demonstrate one or more of the three types of empathy yet still come across as uncaring.
Empathy is expressed through you and everyone else in different ways. An example that Nedra Tawwab expresses is “People have a full story and just because they did something bad or unfavorable, they probably have also done so many kind and good things in their life, too.” Tawwab knows that you are entitled to whatever you want to share or feel to whoever you may but that just because a person does something that does not mean that is who they are off of that one choice or decision they may have made. You make choices every day and sometimes you do not make the right choice but you do not know what is going on in another person’s life. That choice may affect you at that moment in a negative way but you do not know what it does to the other person. Tawwab also states “I think the exposure can be more impactful in terms of changing people’s mind-set then arguing or creating a disagreement.” You can try an impact someone with empathy but that does not mean that you are going to change their mind on whatever topic you may be talking about. To people some things that may affect them would be if you show purpose in what you are talking about, don’t try and solve their problems but help them and show them a better path as to what you think should go on. Trying to understand someone you may have just met will not work the first time in most situations because people may think why should I listen to this random person that I have just met.
Your perspective in taking a point of view of another person is huge in better understanding others. A nice thing about having the skill that allows us to better explore a situation that may have happened in the past. Perspective can also help people in making an upcoming decision that may have to be made. Karamo Brown says “I don’t think we do that enough as human beings, as a country or as a society.” Brown is referring to people making choices about people before you even know them. Things that you wear, do as a job, people you hang out with or even the car you drive all have things to do with how people will portray you as a person. There is so much that us as humans do not understand about empathy and why people portray people even if we may not even know them. Leslie Jamison said in an article “Im approaching empathy as, ‘There’s so much I don’t know about the vast mystery of other people’s experiences, but what are the small ways I can at on that unknowing.” I interpret this as her saying people do not know much about understanding other people and why some may do the things they do. People have a lot to learn about the human race still as it is always evolving.
Having empathy as a human being is a great thing for many reasons. Building trust, creating a good environment to be around it also allows you to conversate more with others. Conversating with others you do not know because you are being a genuine person is a good thing to have. In a way you are marketing yourself as a person to let others help understand you. People with the strength or skill of empathy sense the emotions of the people around them. Empathy is very welcoming and provides a safe place for people to express their feelings. This ability brings a sense of peace to people. Comfortable people with empathy see the world through the feelings of others as well as their emotions.
Empathy alone does not cause for people to act on how they are feeling. Empathy is a very encouraging thing to most people if you are someone that cares how others around you are always feeling. Emotional empathy is thought to be limited for a couple reasons; large number of people will feel a lesser effect of you because of your surroundings. Empathy is also less effective on people that may already be suffering from things that are out of their control. It may be hard for someone not comfortable with who they are as a person to talk but listening can be a very big role in bettering themselves.
Empathy allows people to build social connections with others by understanding what people are thinking and feeling, people can respond appropriately in social situations. Research shows that having social connections is important for both physical and psychological well-being. Understanding yourself as well as others is not an easy thing to do. Once you understand others you become more confident in who you are as a person. You are more motivated to do good to not only yourself but others.
