Which of the following terms is closely related to sympathy in human interactions?

The term that is most closely related to sympathy in human interactions is compassion. Sympathy involves sharing feelings of sorrow or concern for someone else's misfortune, while compassion goes a step further, encompassing not just understanding but also a desire to alleviate that suffering. When one feels compassion, they are moved by empathy and take action to help or support the individual in distress.

While rapport, connection, and empathy are all valuable in human interactions, they serve different functions. Rapport refers to a harmonious relationship that fosters understanding and trust but does not inherently involve feeling for another's suffering. Connection generally denotes a bond between individuals, which can include various feelings but does not specifically focus on the emotional response to another's misfortune. Empathy involves putting oneself in another's shoes and understanding their feelings, but it doesn’t always carry the same sense of desire to act as compassion does.

Thus, compassion, as a more profound and active form of sympathy, is what establishes a closer relationship to the concept being described.