It's common for individuals to confuse empathy with sympathy, however, there is a significant contrast between the two. Both provide support to someone going through a difficult time, but empathy allows us to experience their emotions, whereas sympathy leads to a desire to see them happy and often involves providing actual assistance. Are you unsure which of these you possess? Take the quiz below and let's discover!
Your friend tells you he got fired from his job. How will you react?
I'll ask how he feels about being fired
I will offer support in any form - whether financial or in finding a new job.
I'll entertain him with a joke about being unemployed or try to change the subject to something happier.
Which animal do you think represents who you are?
Your partner had a hard day at work. How will you help them relax?
I will offer to give them a massage and we will talk about their past day.
I will make them dinner, bathe the children and put them to bed, while they rest.
I will say that the troubles of work stay at work, and now they are at home so watch TV and relax.
A beggar boy asked you for alms. What will you do?
I will give him some money and ask him how he got into this situation.
I will give him some money and ask him if he is hungry.
I'll give him some money and keep walking.
I will ignore him completely.
Your child has gone through a breakup for the first time and is heartbroken. What will you tell them?
I will tell him about a difficult breakup I went through and help them feel less alone.
I will take them out for fun - shopping or good food that will help make them forget about the guy or girl.
I will say that there are many more fish in the sea and that there is no need to cry because of anyone.
Which color do you think reflects your attitude to the people you care about?
One of your friends has prepared a presentation that the next day he will present to potential investors in his project. He is very stressed. How will you help him relax?
I will ask him what exactly he is afraid of and try to quiet his anxieties.
I will suggest that he pass the presentation in front of me and rehearse.
I will try to find us an activity that will distract him from the subject.
Your co-worker has told you that they are dealing with mental health issues. How will you react?
I will say what I know about the subject and ask about their personal experience.
I'll try to convince them to seek professional treatment and maybe even help them with that.
I'll tell them that I am really not the right person to talk to about such things and I will try to avoid such conversations with them.
Which animal do you think describes your emotional intelligence?
Someone you know wrote a long post on Facebook describing the difficult time they are going through. What will you do?
I will contact him in a personal message and ask him if he wants to talk.
I will leave a comment with an encouraging message and offer my support.
I'll leave an emoji that shows empathy or concern.
I'll keep scrolling, it's none of my business.
In the middle of a trip, an accident occurred in front of you on the road. What will you do?
I will pull over and check what happened and if I need help.
I will immediately call the ambulance and call a medical team to the scene.
I will continue on my way, if I stop I will just create a traffic jam.
One of your family members is hospitalized. They are in good condition, but will have to stay there for a few days. What will you do?
I will get to sit with them and visit them as much as possible.
I will make arrangements for him that he needs to make.
I will call to ask how he is and I hope he gets well soon.
You are an empathetic person
According to your answers on the test, your ability to empathize helps you to help those who are dear to your heart by forming a deep connection with them and lending a listening ear. You yourself are a sensitive and intuitive person who is able to connect with others on a deep level and develop meaningful relationships, and in fact, you have almost no interest in superficial relationships. People feel safe around you and know they have a shoulder to lean on when they need it, so it's no surprise that most of your friends tell you everything they're going through - even what they don't tell others.
You are a sympathetic person
According to your answers in the test, your ability to sympathize helps you show others how much you care about them and understand their situation and not only that, but it also pushes you to provide practical help that will get them out of their bitter situation. Even though you don't "feel" what they feel, you are definitely interested in their feelings and try to sympathize, but your natural impulse is mainly to help, comfort and try to make a smile appear on the face of anyone who lies to your heart and is sad. This help is almost always appreciated, but sometimes all people want is to let off some steam, so if you notice they're not interested in helping, you can just try to listen and develop your empathy skills as well.
You are one heck of a person
According to your answers in the test, you are not gifted with empathy or sympathy, but with apathy - indifference. You tend to keep a distance from the feelings of others and concentrate mainly on your own feelings and experiences, and while you won't be the first to offer support to others, that really doesn't mean you don't care about them. You may want to help but you don't know how, or you just have a hard time talking about feelings for your own personal reasons, but know that it's never too late to learn how to develop empathy and sympathy. If you open yourself up to others, you will see that they will also open up more to you, and you will also discover that you have the ability to help that you did not know existed in you.
Shai K.
3/26/2023
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