Which term is the ability to understand and care about the emotions of others?

• A. Sympathy
• B. Indifference
• C. Empathy
• D. Compassion

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is recognizing terms that describe how we relate to others' feelings. Empathy captures both understanding what someone is feeling and caring about those emotions. It includes the cognitive side of taking another’s perspective and the affective side of resonating with their emotional state, which naturally leads to appropriate, supportive responses.

Sympathy involves feeling pity or sorrow for someone, but doesn’t require understanding their exact experience or sharing their emotions. Compassion emphasizes concern and a drive to help relieve suffering, focusing more on the motive to assist than on understanding the other person’s inner feelings. Indifference is the absence of concern. So, the ability to understand and care about others’ emotions is best described by empathy.