Empathy !

[Crazy chef 1]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

sad but true.

Not true!

sorry Somsri you know that i'm not a member of the bashing brigade but unfortunately in this case it is true.we are living here in a true ME FIRST society money is everything and your above mentioned example regarding the funeral imho it is just a get together with food,booze and some gambling.sadly i had to attend already quiet a few and i haven't seen real emphaty. sorry about this but pls be honest to yourself.

[Costas2008]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

Have you ever been to the funeral, wedding, and monk ordination ceremonies in the villages? You'll find out then that they do help other. They do have empathy for other, it might not be the same level to your standard, but they do have it and to say it otherwise is simply wrong.

I have been and taken part to a few ceremonies, you mentioned above.

Except the close family, as I said on my post, the others are only interested in the free food and drink offered, never seen any emotions of empathy.

The worst thing for me is going to the funerals and seen the people, drinking and laughing loud even when the monks are chanting, in front of the coffin.

Saying that, I do understand that these people have a tough life, so there is not much space in them to feel empathy for others, than think of their situation only.

[Crazy chef 1]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

sad but true.

Not true!

sorry Somsri you know that i'm not a member of the bashing brigade but unfortunately in this case it is true.we are living here in a true ME FIRST society money is everything and your above mentioned example regarding the funeral imho it is just a get together with food,booze and some gambling.sadly i had to attend already quiet a few and i haven't seen real emphaty. sorry about this but pls be honest to yourself.

[ATF]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

The word empathy is not the same as sympathy or compassion. It literally means "Putting yourself in someone else's shoes'.

You could empathize with Dr. Thaksin because he has more money than he knows what to do with.

The Thai word is "Greng Jai".

[Somsrisonphimai]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

sad but true.

Not true!

sorry Somsri you know that i'm not a member of the bashing brigade but unfortunately in this case it is true.we are living here in a true ME FIRST society money is everything and your above mentioned example regarding the funeral imho it is just a get together with food,booze and some gambling.sadly i had to attend already quiet a few and i haven't seen real emphaty. sorry about this but pls be honest to yourself.

No I am not saying that you guys are bashing Thais. I disagree with you guys. You know friends, family member and neighbors put in a lot of time preparing for the type of ceremony. They do it for free and yes they being fed but that is just normal. Just wait until your Thai family has similar ceremony, you'll see they are coming to help. Don't forget that Thais are Buddhist and what is the teaching of Buddha?

[ZigZagMan]

I was in one of my favorite restaurants when an old customer and husband of a waitress, had a heart attack and died.

The next day I went and asked the other waitress' how the widow was holding up?

All of them began dancing, jumping around shouting, "She's rich! She's rich! She's rich!

[Crazy chef 1]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

sad but true.

Not true!

sorry Somsri you know that i'm not a member of the bashing brigade but unfortunately in this case it is true.we are living here in a true ME FIRST society money is everything and your above mentioned example regarding the funeral imho it is just a get together with food,booze and some gambling.sadly i had to attend already quiet a few and i haven't seen real emphaty. sorry about this but pls be honest to yourself.

No I am not saying that you guys are bashing Thais. I disagree with you guys. You know friends, family member and neighbors put in a lot of time preparing for the type of ceremony. They do it for free and yes they being fed but that is just normal. Just wait until your Thai family has similar ceremony, you'll see they are coming to help. Don't forget that Thais are Buddhist and what is the teaching of Buddha?

sorry again- i would say pretended Bhuddist's because even the first 5 commands gets broken on a daily base.(don't lie,don't kill, respect the elder one and don't forget to NOT cheat around).

[GuestHouse]

It is of course ridiculous to say that empathy does not exist in Thai society.

It is not however ridiculous to compare levels of empathy between societies or ask do societal values encourage or discourage empathy.

Ceremonies and making merit should not be mistaken for empathy when on any day we can witness crowds gathering around accidents gawking at dead people. People pushing to the front to take snap shots of children crushed beneath vehicles, bodies burned in fires or even the callous disregard for an injured animal, a dog suffering disease that can't be destroyed in this life because it must suffer.

Ask yourself this question. The Thai couple who last year were arrested for torturing a young girl they had kept as a slave in their home - scalding and burning her to the point that she has been crippled - Not so much could that happen in your home country - rather is it even conceivable that people who could commit such a crime could be arrested and then evade justice?

I find it extremely difficult to see Thai society valuing or encouraging empathy.

I see a lot of ceremony, acting a roll and face. A whole lot more rationalization of the suffering of others.

[benalibina]

Actually, I believe that 'Empathy' is the wrong term.

Empathy implies that you have had a similar experience to that of the other person.

I can't have empathy for a woman giving birth as I never can have that experience.

I can care and support and have 'Sympathy' for her, but not have an empathic feeling.

Had the term been 'Compassion' ... that is a different question.

IMHO

.

Hmmm..... I don't think you have to have actually experienced it, although that helps. Empathy means you can imagine what the other person is experiencing. For example, I have never lost my phone, but when I found a phone recently, I imagined what it would be like to lose mine; The phone itself gone, all my contacts lost, photos lost etc....not nice, so I endeavoured to get the phone back to the owner.

A small example and a good 1.....civilized as well.

[Sandman77]

And how about fake empathy in Thailand ?

Any known perfection skills about this ?

There is a ownest and a fake emphasy face in Thailand , some play the fake one very good espasaly tuk tuk drivers in Bangkok ,first talk about everything funny in the life , and you think you have a good friend, 5 minutes later he bring you at the wrong place and want overcharge you emphasy like a game, in meantime I very sensitive about this , and I could say that I can detect fake emphasy on the eye of the people !

And the last question what has the helping syndrome to do with emphatic ?

Is it in the gen , or comes emphasy from expirience in our childhood?

[benalibina]

And how about fake empathy in Thailand ?

Any known perfection skills about this ?

There is a ownest and a fake emphasy face in Thailand , some play the fake one very good espasaly tuk tuk drivers in Bangkok ,first talk about everything funny in the life , and you think you have a good friend, 5 minutes later he bring you at the wrong place and want overcharge you emphasy like a game, in meantime I very sensitive about this , and I could say that I can detect fake emphasy on the eye of the people !

And the last question what has the helping syndrome to do with emphatic ?

Is it in the gen , or comes emphasy from expirience in our childhood?

[benalibina]

Again.....differences between people of your homecountry and Thai people....

[Thai at Heart]

Love for your fellow man is the issue.

Its one thing to.fend for your family,its another to fend for your fellow human in general.

Thailand appears to lack the second type sometimes, but don't forget where we come from most of us have a social system in place.

[benalibina]

Love for your fellow man is the issue.

Its one thing to.fend for your family,its another to fend for your fellow human in general.

Thailand appears to lack the second type sometimes, but don't forget where we come from most of us have a social system in place.

It seems you are saying.....where you come from they are more emphatic than thais due to a social system in place. What exactly do you mean with that ?

[farang000999]

Today I was in a store after a long day and got to the checkout and the young girl doing the scanning was wearing an insanely tight low cut blouse with her large beautiful bosom practically falling out (I am not in Thailand obviously). I really couldn't help but be a pig and stare at those beautiful globes and barely even made any eye contact and when I made a random comment she interjected her boyfriend into the conversation. This could have been a preventive mechanism under the assumption that I was trying to flirt or would begin trying to flirt with her however the comment I made was not made in this manner and it was not a comment that would lead into a conversation. There wasn't much reason for her to believe that I was planning a verbal assault. More than likely she just didn't appreciate me standing their drooling at her gorgeous tits fantasizing about how nice it would be to play with them - and that was her way of letting me know.

Her comment of course worked and it shook me out of the fantasy and into self reflection contemplating what she was thinking/feeling. If she doesn't want me to look why dress that way? But maybe she likes to dress this way because she likes the way her body looks and she enjoys dressing this way but in her mind it does not mean that she wants me to look. Or maybe she understands that I want to look and likes it if I look a little but when I just stand their drooling she is grossed out. And how would I feel if I saw someone starring like that at my wife/daughter/cousin friend? What do my actions look like to others and how would i react if I saw another man behaving this way?

[ATF]

Today I was in a store after a long day and got to the checkout and the young girl doing the scanning was wearing an insanely tight low cut blouse with her large beautiful bosom practically falling out (I am not in Thailand obviously). I really couldn't help but be a pig and stare at those beautiful globes and barely even made any eye contact and when I made a random comment she interjected her boyfriend into the conversation. This could have been a preventive mechanism under the assumption that I was trying to flirt or would begin trying to flirt with her however the comment I made was not made in this manner and it was not a comment that would lead into a conversation. There wasn't much reason for her to believe that I was planning a verbal assault. More than likely she just didn't appreciate me standing their drooling at her gorgeous tits fantasizing about how nice it would be to play with them - and that was her way of letting me know.

Her comment of course worked and it shook me out of the fantasy and into self reflection contemplating what she was thinking/feeling. If she doesn't want me to look why dress that way? But maybe she likes to dress this way because she likes the way her body looks and she enjoys dressing this way but in her mind it does not mean that she wants me to look. Or maybe she understands that I want to look and likes it if I look a little but when I just stand their drooling she is grossed out. And how would I feel if I saw someone starring like that at my wife/daughter/cousin friend? What do my actions look like to others and how would i react if I saw another man behaving this way?

I would have told her she had beautiful breasts. Lookie no Touchie.

[MrWorldwide]

How can anybody be called caring or having empathy when one neglects one's own parents?

Depends on the parents and one's childhood. I've seen some children who should take care of their parents by hanging them.

Post of the year and I dont believe that ends at the Thai border, sadly.

[MrWorldwide]

Today I was in a store after a long day and got to the checkout and the young girl doing the scanning was wearing an insanely tight low cut blouse with her large beautiful bosom practically falling out (I am not in Thailand obviously). I really couldn't help but be a pig and stare at those beautiful globes and barely even made any eye contact and when I made a random comment she interjected her boyfriend into the conversation. This could have been a preventive mechanism under the assumption that I was trying to flirt or would begin trying to flirt with her however the comment I made was not made in this manner and it was not a comment that would lead into a conversation. There wasn't much reason for her to believe that I was planning a verbal assault. More than likely she just didn't appreciate me standing their drooling at her gorgeous tits fantasizing about how nice it would be to play with them - and that was her way of letting me know.

Her comment of course worked and it shook me out of the fantasy and into self reflection contemplating what she was thinking/feeling. If she doesn't want me to look why dress that way? But maybe she likes to dress this way because she likes the way her body looks and she enjoys dressing this way but in her mind it does not mean that she wants me to look. Or maybe she understands that I want to look and likes it if I look a little but when I just stand their drooling she is grossed out. And how would I feel if I saw someone starring like that at my wife/daughter/cousin friend? What do my actions look like to others and how would i react if I saw another man behaving this way?

I've never once heard a gay man object to the idea that his anatomy had been objectified by other men. Not once. This seems to be something unique to the female of the species - happy to hear otherwise. She had the choice of wearing something more suitable for the workplace and she chose to flaunt it - lets get some perspective on this. Do the people you listed dress like they are going to a nightclub at 8am ? You have overthought this to an alarming degree.

[Somsrisonphimai]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.

How do Thai people fit on the above definition?

Except the close family, when were Thais interested in helping others?

And making less distinct the differences between the self and the other?

Have you heard of the me, me first culture?

In any country, I have been, people do help others in need.

I believe that Empathy, that is a Greek word anyway, does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

sad but true.

Not true!

sorry Somsri you know that i'm not a member of the bashing brigade but unfortunately in this case it is true.we are living here in a true ME FIRST society money is everything and your above mentioned example regarding the funeral imho it is just a get together with food,booze and some gambling.sadly i had to attend already quiet a few and i haven't seen real emphaty. sorry about this but pls be honest to yourself.

No I am not saying that you guys are bashing Thais. I disagree with you guys. You know friends, family member and neighbors put in a lot of time preparing for the type of ceremony. They do it for free and yes they being fed but that is just normal. Just wait until your Thai family has similar ceremony, you'll see they are coming to help. Don't forget that Thais are Buddhist and what is the teaching of Buddha?

sorry again- i would say pretended Bhuddist's because even the first 5 commands gets broken on a daily base.(don't lie,don't kill, respect the elder one and don't forget to NOT cheat around).

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. They may be pretending to practice Buddhism, but at least they don't go around making others suffer or trying to shovel their beliefs on others.

[Thai at Heart]

Love for your fellow man is the issue.

Its one thing to.fend for your family,its another to fend for your fellow human in general.

Thailand appears to lack the second type sometimes, but don't forget where we come from most of us have a social system in place.

It seems you are saying.....where you come from they are more emphatic than thais due to a social system in place. What exactly do you mean with that ?

As I said, it can appears sometimes that thailand lacks a certain level of compassion in society in comparison with the west.

This however can be distorted by the fact that the west often has a huge safety net to help the needy and the sick. Its all relative if you try to compare only by using ones own eyes.

[Somsrisonphimai]

Love for your fellow man is the issue.

Its one thing to.fend for your family,its another to fend for your fellow human in general.

Thailand appears to lack the second type sometimes, but don't forget where we come from most of us have a social system in place.

It seems you are saying.....where you come from they are more emphatic than thais due to a social system in place. What exactly do you mean with that ?

As I said, it can appears sometimes that thailand lacks a certain level of compassion in society in comparison with the west.

This however can be distorted by the fact that the west often has a huge safety net to help the needy and the sick. Its all relative if you try to compare only by using ones own eyes.

Sometimes it confuses me that how can the westerners have more compassion or be sympathetic toward others than say Thais when western culture is more individualism whereas Asian culture is more collectivism.

I don't disagree with you on that the westerners have more compassion than Thais. It does however bother me when people say Thais don't have empathy or compassion for others.

[animatic]

Empathy :

"The ability to understand and share the feelings of others"

This is not the province of any one culture or it's sub-cultures.

There are significant percentages of the population who have been trained in life

to ignore the feelings of others that they feel superior to, since the nationalistic impulse,

is so much stronger than most places in this young and fragile nation-state.

That said I have seen individual expressions of personal empathy by many Thais.

Weirdly that often takes the form of lying to someone to leave them untouched

by bad news they will not like. Save their face by not informing them of something.

That is a form of advance empathy; they imagine how bad the person would feel,

and prevent it happening. Yes, very weird from western sensibilities.

The color bridge of Thai society is also the slippery scale of reducing empathy

The darker the object person the less chance of empathy. Again culturally induced.

Then face itself. The rich and powerful gain empathy because Thais are raised to

revere those with greater power, age, and status, regardless of their moral standing.

They will match the feelings of a powerful figure out of duty to face as culture.

Foreigners are a weird nexus for empathy, we don't fit in the Thai cultural structure.

For that they both pity and sometimes hate us, but how often do they ever

really try to understand and share our feelings? Or has jingoism prevented that?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[ATF]

Sometimes it confuses me that how can the westerners have more compassion or be sympathetic toward others than say Thais when western culture is more individualism whereas Asian culture is more collectivism.

I don't disagree with you on that the westerners have more compassion than Thais. It does however bother me when people say Thais don't have empathy or compassion for others.

It's really a difference between Christian Values and Asian Values combined with the fact most falungs prefer the company of friends to their family. Whereas Thais have a very close family bond. Asians have more empathy to their family and since most Asian families always need something because of minimal government support. Charity begins at home.

There is also the blatant disregard for non family as in China. The baby formula scandal is one example, but the West is also guilty of such offenses.

[Thai at Heart]

Love for your fellow man is the issue.

Its one thing to.fend for your family,its another to fend for your fellow human in general.

Thailand appears to lack the second type sometimes, but don't forget where we come from most of us have a social system in place.

It seems you are saying.....where you come from they are more emphatic than thais due to a social system in place. What exactly do you mean with that ?

As I said, it can appears sometimes that thailand lacks a certain level of compassion in society in comparison with the west.

This however can be distorted by the fact that the west often has a huge safety net to help the needy and the sick. Its all relative if you try to compare only by using ones own eyes.

Sometimes it confuses me that how can the westerners have more compassion or be sympathetic toward others than say Thais when western culture is more individualism whereas Asian culture is more collectivism.

I don't disagree with you on that the westerners have more compassion than Thais. It does however bother me when people say Thais don't have empathy or compassion for others.

I think its incredibly difficult to compare the developing world with the developed on this issue.

Social systems as much as some rabid right wingers moan about them, scoop up millions of people at their time of need and help. Thailand doesn't have this, so families contribute instead.

No money, no family no help in Thailand. I don't believe either "culture" has a monopoly on the better way. That said, analysis and understanding of society is way further developed in the west in my mind.

The west is forever chasing improvement and change. Thailand seems determined to stay exactly the way it is. Just look at the hoohaa about social medical reform in Thailand.

[simple1]

Love for your fellow man is the issue.

Its one thing to.fend for your family,its another to fend for your fellow human in general.

Thailand appears to lack the second type sometimes, but don't forget where we come from most of us have a social system in place.

It seems you are saying.....where you come from they are more emphatic than thais due to a social system in place. What exactly do you mean with that ?

As I said, it can appears sometimes that thailand lacks a certain level of compassion in society in comparison with the west.

This however can be distorted by the fact that the west often has a huge safety net to help the needy and the sick. Its all relative if you try to compare only by using ones own eyes.

Sometimes it confuses me that how can the westerners have more compassion or be sympathetic toward others than say Thais when western culture is more individualism whereas Asian culture is more collectivism.

I don't disagree with you on that the westerners have more compassion than Thais. It does however bother me when people say Thais don't have empathy or compassion for others.

It would be an interesting exercise for a study on compassion / sympathy / empathy across similar socio economic grouping in a Western country in comparion to Thailand. e.g. I suggest the wealthier Westerners would have a higher ranking than the equivalent Thais, but the poorer Westeners would have a lower ranking than the poorer Thais.

[GuestHouse]

It would be an interesting exercise for a study on compassion / sympathy / empathy across similar socio economic grouping in a Western country in comparion to Thailand. e.g. I suggest the wealthier Westerners would have a higher ranking than the equivalent Thais, but the poorer Westeners would have a lower ranking than the poorer Thais.

I believe I'm right in saying that across all societies empathy/sympathy/compassion is at its highest amongst the poor and at its lowest amongst the Petite bourgeoisie.

As is often remarked, there is little in life as nasty and self serving as the lower middle class.

[benalibina]

Does education have an impact on "the level empathy" ?

[Thai at Heart]

It would be an interesting exercise for a study on compassion / sympathy / empathy across similar socio economic grouping in a Western country in comparion to Thailand. e.g. I suggest the wealthier Westerners would have a higher ranking than the equivalent Thais, but the poorer Westeners would have a lower ranking than the poorer Thais.

I believe I'm right in saying that across all societies empathy/sympathy/compassion is at its highest amongst the poor and at its lowest amongst the Petite bourgeoisie.

As is often remarked, there is little in life as nasty and self serving as the lower middle class.

Is that why Thais who live in new moobhans open the gate and let their dogs out to shit everywhere.?

Is this the self serving new lower middle class?

[ravip]

Empathy..... does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

It all depends on the company you keep in a foreign country.

Thailand is as normal a country as any other. But foreigners with a different mind set settle down there and believe they know everything and their pattern of thought is right - these are the 'poor' misguided suffering in their own make believe world.

In real, this type of people should live in their own country - for the good or for the worst.

Happens every where, not ONLY in Thailand.

Edit

Superiority complex sets in on an inferiority character.

Forgive me, this will sure infuriate many. But as the saying goes, the truth is bitter.

[benalibina]

Empathy..... does not exist in Thai vocabulary or thinking.

It all depends on the company you keep in a foreign country.

Thailand is as normal a country as any other. But foreigners with a different mind set settle down there and believe they know everything and their pattern of thought is right - these are the 'poor' misguided suffering in their own make believe world.

In real, this type of people should live in their own country - for the good or for the worst.

Happens every where, not ONLY in Thailand.

Edit

Superiority complex sets in on an inferiority character.

Forgive me, this will sure infuriate many. But as the saying goes, the truth is bitter.

Topic is about differences between thailand and poster's homecountries. Not from thais towards foreigners.