Responsiveness - what is this quality?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Man is a complex, contradictory being. He is characterized by both the highest ups of humanism and the basest deeds. What qualities form the moral core that allows people to remain human in extreme situations? Thanks to what does a person not lose his human face even above the abyss?

The concept of responsiveness

One of these key concepts is responsiveness. This word in explanatory dictionaries is defined as follows. In Efremova, it is interpreted as the ability to easily respond, respond to something, readiness to help, sympathize with others. The same explanation is given by Ozhegov. According to Kuznetsov, responsiveness is a lexeme that, in addition to the shades of meaning already listed, has one more thing: to perceive sensitively, to react vividly to something. Synonyms and antonyms will help to supplement the semantics of the word. They also explain the shades of meaning. According to the dictionaries of synonyms, responsiveness is cordiality, good nature, kindness, sympathetic attitude, sensitivity, sensitivity. And also attentiveness. In turn, opposite shades of meaning are indifference, selfishness, callousness, heartlessness, formalism. As you can see, the general semanticsemotional-evaluative series is negative. Thus, responsiveness is a moral category that has positive evaluative characteristics and plays an important role in the formation of a highly developed ethical personality.

Case studies

Passing from theory to practice, let's recall the famous lines of Tyutchev: "… and we are given sympathy, as we are given grace." What does it mean? Grace is the mercy of God, a free and merciful gift. Consequently, responsiveness to people, that is, sympathy and assistance to them, should also be manifested and performed “just like that”, without any expectation of a reward. And not only to people - to all living beings! After all, if a child or an adult, walking down the street, kicks a cat, regrets throwing a piece of bread to a stray dog, or indifferently watches someone break a tree branch, he is hardly capable of compassion at all! What is more important: indifference and responsiveness, as a rule, are not innate. Both qualities are nurtured in each of us. First, the family, then the environment, the whole spiritual atmosphere of the society in which we live. And plus self-education. Personal work on oneself is perhaps the most important moment in the formation of certain character traits. After all, responsiveness should be present in us regardless of our own personal likes or dislikes. A beggar or a drunk on the street is usually not pleasant to look at. But a person with a good heart will not leave him without help!

The ability to be on the edge

Whenwe selected synonyms for the word “responsiveness”, did not mention tact. How are the two qualities related? Tact is the ability in conversations, in actions not to go beyond certain boundaries, violating which you can even inadvertently offend, hurt, disappoint. After all, if you show compassion, sympathy excessively, and offer help obsessively, then instead of a positive effect, you can achieve the complete opposite. And good intentions will bring not benefit, but harm. Emotional responsiveness, therefore, does not happen without delicacy, caution, respect in dealing with each other. Compliance with the norms of external and internal culture is a prerequisite here. So, in front of strangers, you will not ask someone, even a close friend, about deeply personal things. Or in a conversation with an unfamiliar person, even if you are very sympathetic to him, you will not express emotions too violently. Politeness to relatives, colleagues, strangers is also one of the manifestations of responsiveness. As well as the ability to apologize, admit wrong, step aside. And if someone believes that these actions are a manifestation of weakness and lack of will, he is deeply mistaken. It is this behavior that is a clear demonstration of one's moral strength, flexible mind and good upbringing!

Sacrifice yourself for others

Often, responsiveness involves such actions that are associated with some kind of sacrifice, volitional effort. That is, being kind is not so easy and simple. Sometimes you need to help not only those who ask you about it. When talking to someone, you may feelunspoken prayer. Not everyone can respond to it. But only to those who put other people's troubles, problem situations or interests in the first place. He tries to do good to others, and then, last but not least, take care of himself. So without sensitivity, special spiritual vigilance, compassion, there are no sympathetic people!

Responsiveness and tolerance

Another important facet of the quality we are considering is tolerance for people. Without it, there simply cannot be responsiveness. To accept others as they are, not trying to reshape them to suit oneself, to one's standards, to treat them sincerely, to forgive weaknesses and not notice shortcomings - without this there is no true humanity, and hence responsiveness. Why? Because intolerance is the sister of selfishness. That is, the complete opposite of everything that correlates with indulgence, generosity, compassion. The most striking embodiment of these qualities were Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa and other highly spiritual personalities, and the commandments of God teach us how to manifest them to our fellowmen.