What empathy means and why it is important with regard to resolving cultural misunderstanding?

Empathy means being able to understand another's emotions or situation without having been in that situation yourself, or while being in a completely different situational context. It is very similar to compassion in that it implies being in a different psychological state, yet being able to allow for latitude in understanding another person's emotions.

It is often confused with sympathy, which implies being in a similar psychological state or circumstances, or having been in another's situation and relating to them as if you are relating to yourself in terms of recall of the psychological state associated with it.

With regard to cultural misunderstandings, conflict resolution, and other forms of diplomacy, empathy is critical as two parties have opposing positions or views and need to be able to set aside their own context and feelings in order to "feel" the other party's position. Once one party does this, it eases the aggression and defensive position of the other party...allowing for the other party to begin to meet you in the middle and empathize with you.

When this happens, both parties can finally resolve disputes and misunderstandings.

This is true not only with different cultures, but also in marriages, friendships, and other interpersonal relations.