Final answer:
Empathy is the ability to sense and understand the emotions and experiences of others. It plays a role in social problem solving, conflict avoidance, and altruism. Empathy is emphasized in ethics and can be triggered through narrative immersion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Empathy is the ability to sense and understand the emotions and experiences of others. It is the capacity to take the perspective of others and feel concern for them. Empathy plays an important role in social problem solving and conflict avoidance, and it can be developed and cultivated through various means.
For example, research suggests that humans have evolved to have a sophisticated empathic understanding of animals, especially dogs, which has given them an evolutionary advantage. Additionally, empathy is closely related to altruism, as an empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help.
Empathy is also emphasized in ethics, where it is considered a virtue that individuals can cultivate. In storytelling and theatre, empathy is triggered through narrative immersion, allowing individuals to immerse themselves in the story and empathize with the characters.