What distinguishes empathy from sympathy?

Empathy is distinguished from sympathy primarily by its focus on sharing and understanding another person's emotional experience. When one practices empathy, they resonate deeply with the feelings of others, allowing them to perceive and relate to those emotions authentically. This process involves not just recognizing someone else's distress or joy, but actually experiencing some of those feelings themselves, fostering a genuine connection.

In contrast, sympathy often acknowledges a person's hardships or feelings but maintains a certain emotional distance. It can involve feeling compassion or pity for someone else's situation without directly experiencing their emotions. This does not involve the same level of emotional engagement that empathy does, which is essential in differentiating the two concepts.

Thus, the correct answer highlights that empathy is a more profound and shared emotional experience, while sympathy tends to be more about understanding from a distance without the same emotional involvement.