Myötätuntoa

Myötätuntoa is a Finnish noun referring to a feeling of compassion or fellow-feeling toward another person’s suffering, and to the disposition or actions that arise from that feeling. It encompasses both an emotional response and a motivation to help or support others who are in distress. In everyday language the term often appears in discussions of ethical conduct, caregiving, and social interaction.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from myötä, meaning with or in accord, and tunto, meaning feeling or sense. Thus myötätunto literally conveys “feeling with” another person. The term is widely used in secular and religious contexts to describe kindness, mercy, and a willingness to assist.

Relation to related concepts: Myötätunto is related to, but distinct from, empatia and sympathy. Empathy emphasizes the ability to understand and share another’s emotions, whereas myötätunto adds a motive to act to relieve suffering. Sympathy denotes a more general sense of pity or concern and may lack the explicit commitment to compassionate action found in myötätunto. In ethical and philosophical discussions, myötätunto is often linked to prosocial behavior and virtue ethics.

Context and implications: In psychology and caregiving, cultivating myötätunto is associated with supportive interpersonal relationships and well-being, but can also lead to caregiver fatigue if exposure to suffering is chronic. Cultural and religious traditions frequently highlight compassion as a central virtue, urging practical responses as well as inner attitudes.