What psychological concept is involved in feeling what another person feels without being able to fix their situation?

The concept of empathy involves the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. When someone experiences empathy, they can connect with another’s emotional state, allowing them to feel what that person is feeling. This connection does not necessarily lead to a desire to intervene or change the situation; rather, it is about emotional resonance and understanding.

In contrast, sympathy typically entails feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune but does not involve the deep emotional connection that empathy does. Compassion refers to a more active response, where one may feel empathy but also feel a desire to help alleviate the other person's suffering. Altruism is related to selfless concern for the well-being of others, which may motivate actions to help without putting an emphasis on shared emotions.

Thus, the core of the question lies in the capacity to emotionally connect with another's feelings while recognizing the situation cannot be changed, which is precisely what empathy captures.