Responsiveness is the ability to respond to requests and provide help and moral support to other people at the right time, to empathize with them. Such a generalized definition can be compiled by looking at explanatory dictionaries. But it is difficult to talk about responsiveness in a few lines, since it is a complex, multi-component concept associated with human psychology. Therefore, it is worth considering it in more detail.
Quality characteristics
Responsiveness is a person’s ability to understand the importance of other people’s problems and accept the individual characteristics of other people.
Each person distinguished by this quality is able to sincerely sympathize and empathize with anyone. Responsive people respect and value other members of society and show kindness, friendliness and cordiality towards them. They do not do bad things and always try to provide all possible support to those who need it, even if there was no request for it. Moreover, such people are able to catch a “cry for help” between the lines, without words, just by looking at a person.
Responsiveness is a rare quality. After all, it also includes sacrifice, a certain amount of altruism. Not every person is able to give up their business in order to devote personal time, energy and resources to solving other people's problems. And those who can really do this definitely deserve the strongest respect.
“When can we call a person responsive?
What actions of a person indicate his responsiveness?
In my opinion, a responsive person can be considered someone who comes to the aid of people in misfortune, be it mental or/and material, and does not worry about himself at the time of such actions. In connection with this statement, I am reminded of the novel “Crime and Punishment” by the great Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, whose works are still popular even abroad. There is an episode in this novel in which Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov ends up in the Marmeladovs’ apartment. Katerina Ivanovna, sick with consumption, barefoot children, drunken, lost Marmeladov - this is what Raskolnikov sees in this apartment. Forgetting about himself, about his needs, he silently approaches Katerina Ivanovna and gives away all the money that he has with him. In my opinion, reading the novel, because of this one act we can hope for the resurrection of the soul of Raskolnikov, who is mistaken in his thoughts, mistaken in his theory. It is this act from the above-mentioned episode that tells us about the good beginnings of Raskolnikov’s personality, about his responsiveness towards those who suffer. Such actions even today allow us to call a person responsive.
I am also convinced that there is nothing more terrible and destructive on earth than war, and therefore a truly sympathetic person can be called one who, in this difficult time, provides support to the troops of his homeland and partisans, despite his own troubles: hunger, danger from the invaders, absence of a breadwinner in the family. We can find such an example of loyalty and responsiveness in Vasil Bykov’s story “Sotnikov”. Demchikha, living in a German-occupied village without a husband, but with young children and barely “making ends meet,” helps Sotnikov and Rybak when she discovers them in her hut. Before her appearance, the hostess’s child brings the Fisherman something to eat. Although initially Demchikha is not too happy to see the partisans at home, some time later she, together with Rybak, provides all possible assistance to Sotnikov, who was wounded in the leg, and after they notice policemen outside the window, the hostess helps the partisans take refuge in the attic. Unfortunately, she will pay with her head for helping the partisans, but this only makes me even more confident that this act of Demchikha testifies to her dedication, loyalty to the Fatherland and responsiveness, because she helped Sotnikov and Rybak exactly when they needed her most were in need, so I think such actions can be considered an example of a sympathetic person.
I would like to continue the theme of responsiveness in war. In my opinion, there is nothing more important for survival on the battlefield than the mutual assistance of comrades and the help of orderlies, which are sometimes one and the same thing.
I urge you to remember the film “Hacksaw Ridge,” shot a couple of years ago by an American director. This film tells the story of Desmond Doss, played by a young American actor (in my opinion, very talented) Daniel Garfield, a Seventh-day Adventist who, due to his experience with violence and beliefs, refuses to take up arms, although he voluntarily enlists in the ranks of the American army. Doss's argument was that he would save people as a field medic while others would kill. Despite all the ridicule, bullying, even beatings and court martial, Doss goes to war. A landing takes place in Japan, and after the battle the Americans retreat over the cliff and descend, but Desmond Doss remains and alone provides first aid to the wounded soldiers remaining on the battlefield, after which he drags them on himself and lowers them from the cliff, adapting a rope for this, wrapped around a stone, with one end in the hands of the orderly and with a knot in which the wounded soldier is secured at the other end. Being in real danger from the Japanese, Doss transports several dozen mutilated but living Americans to his own. The orderly remains on the battlefield until the last, having worn his hands down to the flesh and worked his back until he is exhausted, until he is wounded and the Japanese go on the offensive. Dozens of lives and families have been saved thanks to Desmond Doss. I firmly believe that this documented act gives us every right to call Desmond Doss a truly compassionate person, and his act a feat. Indeed, love of life, compassion, faith in God and goodness, the desire to change this world for the better, while others destroy each other, disfigure our beautiful planet, as well as duty and honor - these are the reasons for Doss’s heroism. We can safely call such people who do not abandon their comrades in trouble, despite the instinct of self-preservation, responsive.
In conclusion, I just have to say. that altruism, the willingness to help others both in peace and in war, or rather a person’s actions associated with these personal qualities, speak of his responsiveness. Perhaps if each of us had this quality and the hope of Desmond Doss, the world would truly be a better place...”
Related qualities
As mentioned above, multi-composition is what characterizes responsiveness or sensitivity, as it is also called. She has relatable qualities that have become her equivalent for many. Be that as it may, they reflect different facets of responsiveness.
These qualities include compassion, mercy, humanity, attentiveness, sincerity, sympathy, cordiality and kindness. Responsiveness without all of the above simply cannot exist, since the absence of at least one “component” implies the presence of another - the opposite one, which will definitely contradict everything else. This means there are no other qualities. That is why the sensitivity (responsiveness) of a person is called a complex, systemic, multi-component concept.
Manifestation in communication
A person’s responsiveness is easy to notice in the process of communicating with him. He is distinguished by appropriate courtesy, tact, the ability to take into account the difference in age and the status of other opponents, as well as other qualities that can be noticed during a conversation.
Such people always monitor and analyze the reaction of other participants in the conversation to their own and others’ words or actions. It will not be difficult for them to apologize and explain the logic of the phrase they said. However, sympathetic people rarely find themselves in awkward situations when communicating, since they do not tend to ask awkward, tactless, tricky and indelicate questions. They do not touch upon topics of a corresponding nature. After all, these are the people who know how to communicate. They are ideal interlocutors who will never put their opponent in an awkward situation, since other people’s feelings are important to them.
The nature of the origin of sensitivity
Many people wonder: is responsiveness a result of upbringing or a quality given by nature? This is a complex question and there is no clear answer. Of course, the influence of parents, the family microclimate, and instilling kindness and compassion in a child is very important. But at the same time, there is a possible predisposition. From time to time it happens that children from good families, growing up, turn into indifferent and cold-blooded people. Sometimes the exact opposite changes occur.
An interesting study was conducted by American scientists. Experts, using experimental and observation methods, have found that the predisposition to kindness and sensitivity is due to the influence of the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin on the human body. Participants in this study were required to undergo a detailed interview, during which they gave detailed answers to questions of a social nature. They also provided scientists with their DNA for analysis. It turned out that people with increased production of oxytocin and vasopressin showed more responsiveness and compassion during the interview.
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About the benefits of quality
Now it’s worth turning to the results of a study conducted by specialists from the University of Michigan. This experiment proved that it is responsive people who get sick less often. And they live longer. How did you find out? For several years, scientists observed 400 married couples over 50 years old. It turned out that people who show responsiveness to their partner in all its manifestations get sick much less often.
In addition, such individuals practically do not suffer from cardiovascular diseases. There is a scientific explanation for all this. The fact is that when a person does good deeds, he feels better and receives some satisfaction. The body responds to this by actively producing endorphins, which have analgesic and calming properties.
How to become better?
It is worth noting that in modern society all is not lost. Many people sooner or later realize that they are, to put it mildly, “not a gift.” And they have a desire to change. It will not be possible to become responsive right away, since you will need to re-educate yourself and eliminate negative traits from your character. The process of working on oneself is long, complex and painstaking, but as a result a person will learn to be kind, attentive and sensitive. And this is worth a lot.
So, firstly, you need to learn to notice what is happening around you. Worth a look back. Perhaps there is a grandmother standing on the sidewalk who cannot cross the road herself. Or the person standing in front of the bakery lacks five rubles for bread. Helping a stranger with some small thing is the simplest example of responsiveness. You need to let the thought pass through yourself: “It won’t hurt me, but it will help the person.”
Secondly, you need to stop being selfish. It's not even about helping strangers. Often even the egoist’s closest and dearest people suffer from his indifference.
Thirdly, it is worth doing a good deed every day, even if it seems insignificant. You can give your hand to a woman getting off the bus, hold the door, give useful advice to an inexperienced colleague, give up your seat on the bus, buy food for homeless kittens at the entrance. It’s amazing, but such signs of attention cause the most sincere smiles, and even the virtue itself, to his surprise, seems to grow wings behind his back.
Essay on what Responsiveness is
We live in the modern world of computerization and enormous speeds. The fast pace of life determines its level. Nowadays you don’t need to meet people on the street or in a cafe to make friends. You don't have to leave the house to chat with friends. Technology brings us closer together. At the same time, people literally stopped noticing each other.
Few people would rush into a burning building to save those remaining there. But every second person will stop to watch and film the tragedy on their phone. Neither aggression, nor cruelty, nor fraud harm a person as much as indifference. After all, all of the above happens with the tacit consent of the indifferent.
We easily pass by if we see that someone is feeling bad or in pain. After all, someone else will definitely help him, and we are in a hurry. If a helpless person is being robbed on the street, we hurry away into an alley. After all, if you interfere, then we will get it too. We do not punish evil out of fear or indifference. Therefore, it grows, filling more and more new spaces.
People began to forget what responsiveness is. It still lives in good books, which teach us not to abandon a friend in trouble, and make us think about the meaning of life. There are many examples in literature of selfless, honest, kind characters who are capable of sacrificing themselves for the sake of others. And there are examples of heroes who think only about their own benefit, money and position in society.
Responsiveness keeps the soul alive. Indifference makes you inhuman, callous, and insensitive. Nothing pleases such a person anymore, no longer causes tenderness.
I believe that everyone can do good deeds. After all, helping someone is not so difficult. This does not require large financial and time expenditures. Older students can help younger students do their homework, explain incomprehensible topics, and protect them from bullies. Or walk a lost baby home. Help grandma carry something heavy or climb the stairs. And those who are younger can sometimes feed street cats and dogs.
I think compassion, first of all, begins with the attitude towards animals. It is impossible to be truly kind to people if you are indifferent to the pain and suffering of animals.
Responsiveness and mercy are similar concepts. And they are sorely lacking in modern society. We need to be kinder to each other.
