PEDAGOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF EMPATHY AS AN ASPECT OF SOCIAL COMPETENCE

Socially competent behavior of an individual presupposes success in social functioning in a way where own needs and goals are satisfied, while taking into account the needs of others. The basic requirement for the realization of this behavior is represented in the individual\u27s sensibility for emotional states of others and understanding of their life circumstances in general. This paper, therefore, views empathy as one of the aspects of social competence, and presents different approaches for the determination and understanding of social competence, with a focus on Integrative Model of Understanding Social Competence, authored by Rose-Krasnor. Described as well are different notions of empathy and its development, with special attention paid to the role of pedagogical intervention in this regard