What is the term for the ability to understand another person's perspective?

The term that describes the ability to understand another person's perspective is empathy. It goes beyond simply recognizing someone's feelings; it involves putting yourself in their shoes and seeing the situation from their viewpoint. This emotional intelligence is crucial in various fields, including healthcare, where understanding a patient’s feelings can enhance communication and lead to better care.

While sympathy and compassion also relate to understanding others, they differ slightly in their application. Sympathy entails feeling pity or sorrow for someone else’s misfortune but does not necessarily involve any personal connection to their emotions. Compassion includes a desire to alleviate the suffering of others, which implies a further emotional response but again lacks the same direct connection to understanding perspective as empathy does. Understanding is a broader term that implies comprehension but does not capture the emotional connection and depth that empathy conveys.