What is a key component of empathy?

Empathy is fundamentally about the ability to connect with and understand another person’s emotional experience. This involves recognizing and feeling what others are feeling, which allows for deeper interpersonal relationships and a greater sense of compassion. By connecting with another's emotional experience, individuals are able to respond sensitively to their emotions, which can foster support and understanding.

The other choices highlight behaviors or attitudes that do not foster empathy. Ignoring others’ feelings or critiquing their emotional responses indicates a lack of understanding and connection, which actively undermines empathetic engagement. Similarly, promoting one’s own feelings over others shows a self-centered approach that is counterproductive to the essence of empathy. Thus, connecting with another's emotional experience is clearly the hallmark of empathy, as it encourages genuine understanding and emotional resonance with others.