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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Pity and Compassion?

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The main difference between pity and compassion lies in the emotions and actions they evoke. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

  1. Perception of others: Pity involves viewing someone as a helpless victim, often with a sense of inferiority or being "less than". In contrast, compassion sees the person as an equal, acknowledging their struggles and pain while recognizing their potential for growth and change.
  2. Belief in change: Pity implies that the person's situation cannot be changed, while compassion believes that the person can overcome their challenges and empower them to change their circumstances.
  3. Actions: Pity often leads to a sense of superiority and may foster resentment in the recipient. Compassion, on the other hand, is empathy in action, motivating individuals to provide support and guidance to those in need.
  4. Empathy: Pity is not feeling sorry for another person, while empathy is feeling with someone, understanding their pain, and sharing in their suffering. Compassion is the natural outgrowth of empathy, as it involves feeling empathy for another person and taking action to alleviate their suffering.

In summary, pity is a feeling of sympathy or sharing in the suffering of another while viewing them as helpless and inferior, often leading to a sense of superiority and potential resentment. Compassion, on the other hand, is feeling empathy for another person's pain and suffering, acknowledging their potential for change, and taking action to support and empower them.

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  • What is the Difference Between Pity and Compassion?
  • Comparative Table: Pity vs Compassion

    • Comparative Table: Pity vs Compassion

    The difference between pity and compassion can be understood through the following table:

    Feature Pity Compassion
    Definition Pity is a feeling of sorrow for the suffering of others, often resulting from their circumstances or actions. Compassion is a feeling of sorrow for the suffering of others, with a desire to help or support them.
    Connotations Pity has negative associations, as it can imply labeling someone and defining them by their circumstances, rather than acknowledging their inherent value as a human being. Compassion has positive associations, as it involves acknowledging the suffering of others while maintaining respect for their humanity.
    Action Pity often leads to a sense of helplessness or avoidance, as the person feeling pity may believe that the situation cannot be changed. Compassion mobilizes action, as the person feeling compassion believes that they can help change the situation and support the person in need.
    Perception Pity sees the person as a victim, focusing on their suffering and limitations. Compassion sees the person as a human being, acknowledging their suffering while also recognizing their strengths and potential.

    In summary, pity is a feeling of sorrow for the suffering of others, but it can have negative connotations and lead to helplessness or avoidance. In contrast, compassion is a feeling of sorrow for the suffering of others, with a desire to help or support them, and it has positive connotations, leading to action and support for the person in need.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.