Empathy and Identity
I am usually very empathetic. But recently, after reading a heartfelt, articulate, and vulnerable post on Facebook, among my first thoughts was, "I'm not like that." It made me begin to wonder about the relationship between empathy and identification. I was not identifying with my friend, even though I felt strong sympathy. Was this a personal failing that might be hurtful in the future? I worry about this. She's fine with or without my attention. She's strong and brilliant, and we're not close enough for my objectivity to be damaging, and so I'm taking this opportunity to look inside myself. On any particular subject, I can divide the world roughly into people who agree or disagree with my opinions. I can divide them into people who have or believe the same information I do, and people who don't. I can divide people into those who have had similar experiences, and those who haven't. It's easy to have empathy for people who are us , but do ...