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Abstract
The article presents research results of a study aimed at determining the correlation between empathy understood as a personality disposition and general attitudes towards individuals with disability. The sample consisted of 300 special education teachers working with persons with intellectual disabilities in primary and secondary schools and institutions of rehabilitation, and 280 general education teachers working with able-bodied students in primary and secondary schools. Two instruments were used: Empathic Understanding of Other People Questionnaire, and the Scale of Attitudes towards Individuals with Disability. In the group of special education teachers, only Syndrome 2 of empathy was statistically significant for shaping the attitudes, whereas among teachers, Syndromes 1, 3 and 4 were significant. In Syndromes 1, 2 and 4, including the highest level of emotional, cognitive, motivational and communication aspects of empathy, the correlations were positive as expected. In the case of Syndrome 3, including the considerable level of cognitive empathy, the correlation was negative.