trigger empathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trigger empathy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions, words, or situations that evoke feelings of understanding and compassion in others. Example: "The documentary aimed to trigger empathy for the struggles faced by the homeless community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The stories are all personal accounts (as opposed to objective and detached reporting of the facts); they were designed to trigger empathy and understanding while leaving the visitors free to interpret the content and the place on the bases of their own understanding and sensitivity.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

Trigger empathy.

Huffington Post

He says, "Film can trigger empathy in you for characters that you haven't met...

Huffington Post

One day, scientists may be able to create robots specially designed to trigger empathy -- a helpful quality for robots to possess if they help or interact with humans.

Huffington Post

But images produce meaning not only on the basis of their informative character, they can also trigger empathy in a way no other testimony can.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's a cultural identification that persists; but no matter how superior they think they are, it's fairly obvious they lack the chromosome that triggers empathy, or conscience.

Huffington Post

After all, it works only if the clients are seen as "deserving," and if their stories trigger instant empathy from impulse givers.

The New Yorker

He says, "the key is to unlock that individual trigger of empathy in people".

Huffington Post

For example, he told me: "When you hear about this little girl stuck in a well, and you devote all your energies to fixing it, you're putting aside that there could be hundreds of thousands of people suffering much worse that could also use your help, but they don't trigger your empathy".

Vice

Instead it complements these efforts by adding a third protagonist, vicarious activations, to a complex scenario in which abnormal bottom-up attention might fail to trigger normal empathy, which in turn prevents the instrumental learning so central to moral development.

Brain

Rather, the feeling of beauty is a subjective response to the perception of objective harmony, a subjective feeling of well-being triggered by empathy with the well-being of other things in the world.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trigger empathy" when you want to emphasize that a specific action, story, or image is designed to initiate a feeling of understanding and compassion in someone else. For example, "The documentary used personal stories to trigger empathy in viewers."

Common error

Avoid using "trigger empathy" in situations where the intended emotion is sympathy or pity. Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another, not just feeling sorry for them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trigger empathy" functions as a verb phrase where "trigger" acts as a transitive verb, taking "empathy" as its direct object. It describes the action of initiating or activating a feeling of understanding and compassion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trigger empathy" is grammatically sound and used to describe the action of initiating or activating feelings of understanding and compassion. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English. Although "trigger empathy" is not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, including news media and scientific publications. When writing, ensure that the intended emotion aligns with the true meaning of empathy, avoiding its misuse for sympathy or pity. Alternatives like "evoke empathy" or "inspire empathy" may offer nuanced options to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evoke empathy

Emphasizes the act of bringing forth empathy from someone.

inspire empathy

Focuses on the act of filling someone with empathetic feelings.

foster empathy

Suggests nurturing and promoting the growth of empathy.

generate empathy

Highlights the creation or production of empathetic feelings.

stimulate empathy

Implies the action of arousing or encouraging empathy.

elicit compassion

Shifts the focus slightly towards compassion, a closely related emotion.

arouse sympathy

Focuses on generating sympathetic feelings.

awaken understanding

Highlights the intellectual aspect of understanding another's feelings.

kindle compassion

Evokes a sense of igniting a feeling of compassion.

invite connection

Emphasizes creating a bond or sense of relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "trigger empathy" in a sentence?

You can use "trigger empathy" to describe actions or content designed to evoke understanding and compassion in others. For instance, "The author used vivid descriptions to trigger empathy for the protagonist's struggles."

What are some alternatives to "trigger empathy"?

Alternatives include "evoke empathy", "inspire empathy", or "foster empathy" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "trigger empathy" or "create empathy"?

"Trigger empathy" implies initiating an existing capacity for empathy, while "create empathy" suggests bringing empathy into being where it didn't previously exist. The better choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "trigger empathy" and "trigger sympathy"?

"Trigger empathy" involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another, whereas "trigger sympathy" is feeling pity or sorrow for someone else. Empathy is a deeper, more engaged response.