sympathetic response
Feeling another's pain
A sympathetic response is a reaction showing understanding or shared feeling toward another's situation.
In physiology, it refers specifically to activation of the sympathetic nervous system—the body's fight-or-flight mechanism that increases heart rate, dilates pupils, and prepares for action: The loud noise triggered a sympathetic response.
In everyday use, it means responding with compassion or alignment: Her story drew a sympathetic response from the committee.
- fight-or-flightAcute threat reaction
- nervous systemSignal transmission network
- pupil dilationEye opening widening
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- emotional resonanceCapacity to stir feelings
vasoconstriction · moral support · sweating · goose bumps · solidarity · understanding · altruism · bronchodilation · gut reaction · kindness · adrenaline · norepinephrine · blood pressure · heart rate · arousal · reassurance · warmth · lending an ear
- gut-brainvagus nerve, second brain, neural pathways, gut feelings, neurotransmitters
- body signalsheartbeat, pulse, brainwaves, brain waves, brainwave
- stress symptomsanxiety attack, panic attack, panic attacks, stress headache, tension headache
- stress hormonescortisol, adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine, noradrenaline
sympathetic responseindifference
Lack of interest
coldness · apathy · cold shoulder · emotional detachment · callousness
sympathetic responserejection
Denial of acceptance
rebuff · aggression · ridicule · condemnation · criticism
sympathetic responserelaxation response
Body's stress-reversing state
sympathetic, sympathy, sympathize, sympathizer, sympathetically, unsympathetic, sympathies, response, respond