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

The ability to understand another person's perspective is referred to as empathy. This concept encompasses the capacity to recognize and share the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another individual. Empathy goes beyond just recognizing emotions; it involves an emotional connection that enables one to appreciate someone else's situation from their viewpoint.

While sympathy involves feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune, it does not require the depth of understanding that empathy does. Insight pertains more to self-awareness and clarity of understanding within a situation, and intuition relates to the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning. Thus, empathy stands out as the most accurate descriptor of the ability to truly grasp what another person is experiencing, reinforcing its importance in effective communication and relationships.