Can you tell the difference between someone who is empathetic vs insecure/not confident? If so how?

Question

Sometimes i think people confuse someone who cares or is empathetic with someone who is insecure or maybe even a doormat.

Sonorous · Accepted Answer

It's easy for me to tell the difference. But ofc I would expect nothing less from me though. 🤣 As I am truly amazing & reasonable & humble. *angelic chuckle* It's just my nature.

But my mother has this problem a lot though. Now I think it would have less to do with perceived confidence and more with perceived competence. Because my mother is very confident looking & she's very good at showing empathy (even if she's not feeling it much), which leads people to try and take advantage of her because she appears nice.

It makes sense considering that highly empathetic people are probably born more lovers than fighters. And people are generally more comfortable with picking on someone they feel they could more easily benefit from. Who better than someone that wouldn't put up much of a fight/someone that's likely not going to be as physically or assertively competent as others.

But what people just don't know is that my mother was born a fighter and had to learn to love. Hell, she's a fucking Christian and still has trouble showing love to me in certain times of need. So yeah when people cross her, they usually regret it.

DonkeyDan · Accepted Answer

I would say someone who is empathetic is understanding but also still able to pose an objection or disagree with someone in a civilised fashion while being able to see both sides of an issue rationally.
Whereas someone who is insecure or has confident issues would be less likely to disagree with someone while being hurt inside buecause of not being able to disagree with someone openly.

annabananna · Accepted Answer

I used to go out of my way to be there for a friend to the point it got into the way of my studies when I was in college. I believe I did it because I had a lot of inner demons that I didn’t want to work on and helping others was a good distraction. I was very insecure at the time and depressed. Some may have confused that with empathy.

ShaTTeredMasterpeace · Accepted Answer

I don't really understand the correlation. I don't think being empathetic really has much to do with confidence or insecurity. It has to do with deep feelings.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

I never view caring as a weakness, at times it takes a shit load of strength as you can be taking on a huge amount of the other persons emotional ‘baggage’.

Often caring is in face of others going against the one you are caring for.

admittedly, I just tick the twat box.

CrazyGirl2 · Answer

Like you wrote in choice “A”, it’s really not difficult to discern empathy from insecurity, especially given that empathetic and insecure are as related / synonymous as chocolate cake & onion! Allow me to rephrase in the form of an SAT question. Empathetic is to Insecure as Toyota Camry is to Lightsaber. I also happen to be very empathetic, I find it quite easy to understand and share the feelings of other people. Especially those I know you well and care about.

dustybiker · Answer

People who ask for criticism are generally insecure. People who are empathetic won’t reply in the way the asker might be wishing to hear, but instead out of kindness (without blowing smoke). 😉

AmandaYVR · Answer

They're unrelated, in my opinion. Empathy has nothing to do with insecurity.
Caring is not weakness. Being held back by putting others first, above yourself and your own needs, is not always healthy if chronic. But being kind is not weak.

t-8900 · Answer

It's very sad we live in a society where people are so used to being treated poorly that they can't believe it when true kindness is right in front of them and instead see it as a weakness or a front to get something.

FýrdracaDócincel · Answer

Someone who is confident and secure will be picky about who they care about.

NathanDavis · Answer

it depends on the situation but yes, I can usually tell the difference between insecure... and not insecure

UsernameXLTX · Answer

It's easy to the tell. A doormat or insecure person feels the NEED to be empathetic in order to be liked and accepted by others without having a firm position/view of himself/herself on the topic at hand. Kinda like virtue signaling.

menina · Answer

I have difficulties in telling the differences. But I'm sure there are some.

Kaneki05 · Answer

I'm confused by how them would be confused so gonna guess I can tell the difference.

Cubus · Answer

Based on my experiences here: no people can't. I'm actually very not confident, and people I talked to view me as empathetic.

llorando · Answer

I have difficulties differentiating between the two.

hhhffg7889 · Answer

A sense that they actually grasp what you're going through

Apulu_3 · Answer

Empathetic is opposite of insecure right?

XXblack88 · Answer

I'm not sure I understand the question

Lyndsielee666 · Answer

I’m dumb as a box of rocks so probably not tbh

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes it's not difficult to tell the difference

PrettyPriya · Answer

What am I? 😕

jackiechanfan · Answer

yes i can tell

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