empatija

Empatija, commonly known as empathy, refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. In psychology and everyday discourse, it encompasses both recognizing another's emotional state and responding with appropriate concern or action. The term is used across languages as empatija or closely related forms.

Experts distinguish several components: cognitive empathy, or the capacity to adopt another’s perspective; affective or emotional empathy, the sharing of another’s feelings; and empathic concern, a motivational aspect that leads to supportive behavior. These components can operate independently; for example, one may understand someone's distress without feeling it emotionally, or vice versa. Some discussions include compassion or prosocial motivation as a related but distinct element.

Empathy develops in childhood through social interaction, language, and the ability to read social cues, and it is shaped by culture, upbringing, and situational factors. Researchers measure empathy using self-report scales like the Interpersonal Reaction Index and the Empathy Quotient, as well as behavioral tasks, though all methods have limitations such as bias or artificial settings.

Empathy supports effective communication, conflict resolution, and caregiving. It is valued in education, healthcare, leadership, and conflict mediation for promoting cooperation and reducing harm.

Excessive empathy can lead to fatigue or bias, and empathy may be culturally specific or misplaced if it ignores context. Empatija is closely linked to related concepts such as sympathy and compassion, while theory of mind underpins the cognitive aspect of understanding others' perspectives.