Empathy and Sympathy within the Pursuit of Advice

• In Event: Managing Interactive Troubles: Competitive Papers in Language and Social Interaction

Abstract

Using conversation analysis, this paper examines the use of empathy and sympathy as methods for extending discussion of another person’s trouble after suggestions to remedy that trouble have been rejected or met with insufficient success. Three such instances on a peer support line were found. At the seeming end of a troubles telling-advice giving sequence, expressing one's own feelings about another's problems and/or sharing similar experiences creates the possiblity for additional advice giving within the guise of empathic concern.

Author

• Christopher J. Pudlinski, Central Connecticut State Univ