EMOTION THESAURUS

EMPATHY



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HELPFUL TIP:

The inner landscape of your characters (especially your protagonist) is the lifeblood that runs through your story. Emotions, and how they're expressed, are tied deeply to a character’s personality and which positive traits and negative traits will manifest. To bring your readers in deeper through shared experience, consider filtering the setting descriptions through your character’s emotions while also exploring important colors, textures, and shapes through his or her senses.
DEFINITION:
To intimately identify with (and possibly experience) another's feelings through the ability to place oneself in their emotional shoes

SIMILAR EMOTIONS:
SYMPATHY

NOTES:
Sympathy and empathy are close in nature but aren't the same. Empathy occurs when a character feels connected to someone through a meaningful shared emotional experience. Sympathy is more surface-level, prompting one to provide comfort and support without necessarily becoming personally attached. For ideas on the latter, please view the SYMPATHY entry.

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
A softening of the features
Eyebrows drawing together
A pained look (if one is sharing another's negative feelings)
Steady eye contact that is comforting, not invasive
Offering a small smile that communicates acceptance
Reaching out to touch (to show connectedness)
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM EMPATHY:
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MAY ESCALATE TO:
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CUES OF SUPPRESSED EMPATHY:
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MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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