Final answer:
Empathy is the leadership trait that falls into the category of interpersonal attributes, as it pertains to a leader's ability to understand and connect with others on an emotional and social level.
Step-by-step explanation:
DeRue's categorization of leadership traits into demographic, task competence, and interpersonal attributes aims to provide a structured perspective on the different qualities a leader may possess. Among the options provided, empathy falls into the category of interpersonal attributes. Interpersonal attributes are related to a leader's ability to interact effectively with others, maintaining good relationships, and understanding the emotional and social needs of the team. Thus, empathy, which is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, is pivotal for effective interpersonal engagement and is a quintessential interpersonal leadership trait.