Man is a complex, contradictory creature. Both the highest ups of humanism and the most base acts are inherent in him. What qualities form the moral core that allows people to remain people in extreme situations? Thanks to what a person and over the abyss does not lose a human face?
The concept of responsiveness
One of these key concepts is responsiveness. This word in the explanatory dictionaries is defined as follows. For Ephraim, it is interpreted as the ability to respond easily, respond to something, the willingness to help, and sympathize with others. Ozhegov also gives the same explanation. According to Kuznetsov, responsiveness is a token that, in addition to the already listed shades of meaning, has one more thing: to perceive sensitively, to react vigorously 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, the opposite shades of meaning are indifference, selfishness, callousness, heartlessness, formalism. As we see, the general semantics of the emotional-evaluative series are negative.
Thus, responsiveness is a moral category that has positive evaluative characteristics and plays a crucial role in the formation of a highly developed ethical personality.
Case studies
Moving 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 grace of God, a gift free and merciful. Consequently, responsiveness to people, that is, sympathy and help to them, too, must manifest and be 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 looks indifferently as someone breaks 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 brought up in each of us. First, the family, then the surroundings, the whole spiritual atmosphere of the society in which we live. And plus self-education. Personal work on yourself is perhaps the most important moment in the formation of certain character traits. After all, responsiveness must be present in us, regardless of our own personal likes or dislikes. A beggar or drunk on the street, as a rule, is not pleasant in appearance. But a man with a good heart will not leave him without help!
Ability to be on the verge
When we selected synonyms for the word "responsiveness", we did not mention tact. How are both qualities related? Tact is a skill in conversations, in actions not to go beyond certain boundaries, breaking which you can even inadvertently offend, hurt, disappoint. Indeed, if you show compassion, sympathy is excessive, and offer help is obsessive, then instead of a positive effect, you can achieve the exact opposite. And good intentions will do no good, but harm. Thus, emotional responsiveness does not exist without delicacy, caution, and respect in dealing with each other. Compliance with the norms of external and internal culture is a prerequisite here. So, with outsiders, you will not ask someone, even a close friend, about a deeply personal one. Or in a conversation with a stranger, even if you are very sympathetic to him, you won’t express your emotions too violently. Courtesy to relatives, colleagues, outsiders is also one of the manifestations of responsiveness. As well as the ability to apologize, admit wrong, backtrack. And if someone believes that these actions are a manifestation of weakness and lack of will, he is deeply mistaken. Such behavior is a clear demonstration of one’s moral strength, flexible mind and good upbringing!
Sacrifice yourself for others
Responsiveness often involves 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 communicating with someone, you may feel an unspoken plea. Not everyone was given a response to it. And only to those who bring other people's troubles, problem situations or interests in the first place. He tries to do good to others, and then, in the last turn, take care of himself. So without responsiveness, special mental vigilance, compassion, there are no responsive people!
Responsiveness and Tolerance
Another important facet of the quality we are considering is tolerance towards people. Without it, there simply cannot be responsiveness. To accept others as they are, not trying to redraw for themselves, to their own standards, to treat them mentally, forgive weaknesses and not notice flaws - without this there is no true humanity, and therefore, responsiveness. Why? Because intolerance is the sister of selfishness. That is, the exact opposite of everything that relates to condescension, generosity, compassion. The most striking embodiment of these qualities was Jesus Christ,
Mother Teresa and other highly spiritual personalities, and the commandments of God teach us how to manifest them to our neighbors.