Which term describes the ability to understand and share the feelings of another individual?

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another individual is encapsulated by the term empathy. Empathy goes beyond merely recognizing someone's feelings; it involves a profound connection where one can feel what another person is experiencing emotionally. This emotional resonance allows individuals to engage deeply with others’ experiences, fostering trust and understanding in relationships.

Sympathy, while related, typically refers to feeling pity or sorrow for someone's misfortune rather than sharing in their emotional experience. Compassion involves not only empathizing with someone’s feelings but also having a desire to help alleviate their suffering. Reflection generally pertains to the process of thinking about one's own thoughts and feelings or considering the emotions of others during communication, but it does not inherently involve the emotional connection that empathy does. Thus, empathy is the most precise term to describe the capacity to connect emotionally with another individual.