Hi guys, What do think about the stereotype that men aren't as good at empathy as women? I'm doing a study on empathy and its interaction with other issues - if any males can spare 10 mins to do this questionnaire and help me find out more about this topic, I'd be so grateful! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zHivTxzoI75vaZdmL2bBSJl6T0cJmJaOSE1JDNZPC0E/viewform
I haven't even visited the website. But I say men can be just as empathic as women. I can only speak based on my own experience, but I'm definitely empathic and I wouldn't trade this for the world.
There is a BIG difference between Empathy and Sympathy. Sympathy is just listening to a problem and offering no solution at all (just getting 'off-loaded' on to). Men find this hard to tolerate at times, especially when the complaining about a problem becomes cyclical. They are frustrated by the person not 'dealing with' possible solutions and just 'letting off steam'. In fact I'd go as far as to say that men view 'letting off steam' as a selfish act and shouldn't be demanded of someone else - especially when they've offered advice (but, of course advice isn't wanted - just sympathy). Empathy is knowing what another person must be going through. This can lead to being helpful even before it becomes a major problem. Or it can lead to giving sympathy with more tolerance. Or it can lead to rational help and advice. I think men can be good or bad at either. But I would say they are worse at sympathy giving as it is normally asked for in an irrational situation. Nothing they say helps, they have to just sit and listen - this can be mind numbingly awful for a mindset that requires a rational course of action to every problem!!
Haha.... They can and do sometimes. Me personally I don't though. If I don't give a shit I don't bother pretending.
