[username]

I think I have the ability to empathize with others. How is this possible as an INTP? Is it through Fe? Is it literally through understanding someone else's pain through Ti because I have had the experience of feeling hurt also? Is it not really empathy? Is it more sympathy?



I cry easily over the suffering of others, but I never feel drained or down from this kind of pain. I feel detached somehow. When people who are close to me express their pain to me, either verbally or in non-verbal expression, I feel a pang in the center of my chest! Does this mean I have well-developed Fi? Or, am I doing this through other functions?

A lot of the INTP description fits me otherwise. My dominant function seems to be Ti.

[skycloud86]

If you have a highly developed Fe, you probably will be quite empathetic.

[AirMarionette]

Just sounds like basic Fe to me (I'm just now reading more into functions, though!).

Sometimes what Ti does is analyze and rationalize the situation in a way that enables a holistic understanding of someone's situation, which means you will see things THEIR way and thus possibly become affected by their emotions. If it isn't developed, it's usually because emotions are misunderstood and seen as dangerous or unideal, which leads to resorted detachment that you see in a lot of INTP descriptions.

Someone made a thread that touched on this subject earlier and Coffee posted an excellent reply, it might give you a more clear/elaborate response. :o

[NeedsNewNameNow]

I can be empathetic too. As long as I have experienced a similar situation, I can understand were the other person is coming from. The only time I can't be empathetic is when I can't understand why the other person is upset, if it seems like something trivial, or emotions seem blown out of proportion.

Example: I had a girlfriend who had her car, which she loved totalled. She was very upset. I can easily empathize with that.
several years later, she is STILL very upset over the car.. Now I have a hard time empathizing with that, yeah maybe you still feel a little sad, but it's just a car, it seems like she should've moved on and not start crying when she thinks about it-- in that case it's difficult for me to empathize.

[username]

"Example: I had a girlfriend who had her car, which she loved totalled. She was very upset. I can easily empathize with that.
several years later, she is STILL very upset over the car.. Now I have a hard time empathizing with that, yeah maybe you still feel a little sad, but it's just a car, it seems like she should've moved on and not start crying when she thinks about it-- in that case it's difficult for me to empathize."

Yes, it would also be difficult for me to empathize with someone who seems to be overly attached to a car. However, if my friend were still upset over an accident she had a few years ago because she almost died, I could certainly remain empathetic to that!

My mentally ill family member sometimes behaves irrationally. She gets upset over things like delusions and paranoia. I always feel a lot of sympathy and empathy for her because I know she's dealing with a lot, even if it is due to a mental illness!

[nikkii]

I'm empathetic, I just use my thinking process for everything.

[thehigher]

Is it empathy or sympathy? Empathy is usually tied to Fi while sympathy with Fe. At least that's what I have heard. And that makes sense to me. My infj friend says that makes sense to him as well. So since he has Fe and I have Fi I feel as though that sort of validates it.

[NeedsNewNameNow]

Is it empathy or sympathy? Empathy is usually tied to Fi while sympathy with Fe. At least that's what I have heard. And that makes sense to me. My infj friend says that makes sense to him as well. So since he has Fe and I have Fi I feel as though that sort of validates it.

I think sympathy is the outward expression of Fe : "awww, so sorry, it will be ok". We may have Fe, but we are low on it, I don't think most INTPs behave like this very often.

Empathy is more of an understanding process of what the person is going through. That's more what I do, but I'm sure it's different than the way an Fi user does it. In my case, my Ti makes sense of the emotions logically, and recalls memories a feelings through Fe, so I can understand how I'd feel in a similar situation as what's being described to me.

[thehigher]

I think sympathy is the outward expression of Fe : "awww, so sorry, it will be ok". We may have Fe, but we are low on it, I don't think most INTPs behave like this very often.

Empathy is more of an understanding process of what the person is going through. That's more what I do, but I'm sure it's different than the way an Fi user does it. In my case, my Ti makes sense of the emotions logically, and recalls memories a feelings through Fe, so I can understand how I'd feel in a similar situation as what's being described to me.

I could be wrong but I think empathy is actually feeling what the other person is feeling to an extent. Being through a similar experience.... that gave a similar emotional response.... and them explaining their situation.... your memory of that emotion rushes back. That's empathy to me.

The understanding to me.... is more Ni Fe or Si Fe. Even Ti. Blah it's hard for me to express thoughts sorry.

I feel as if the english lang is limiting us here. Or maybe I'm just bad and conveying objective information.

You know I was talking to my infj friend about the difference between Fe and Fi.... and we really got nowhere. There is a DISTINCT difference but when put into words it becomes harder to define.

Perhaps we should focus on discerning between Fe and Fi effectively.... I dunno.

[username]

I think sympathy is the outward expression of Fe : "awww, so sorry, it will be ok". We may have Fe, but we are low on it, I don't think most INTPs behave like this very often.

Empathy is more of an understanding process of what the person is going through. That's more what I do, but I'm sure it's different than the way an Fi user does it. In my case, my Ti makes sense of the emotions logically, and recalls memories a feelings through Fe, so I can understand how I'd feel in a similar situation as what's being described to me.

It does not come naturally for me to be able to comfort someone using words (sympathy), but I strive hard to help people when they are in need so am able to do it.

I also understand and feel what a person is going through (empathy), and this is what causes me to feel the need to comfort or help them (express sympathy).