7/28/2019 What is Compassion?- Emiliana Simon-Thomas

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What Is Compassion?

The feeling that arises when you

encounter another persons

suffering and are motivated to

help.

7/28/2019 What is Compassion?- Emiliana Simon-Thomas

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..an emotion or a trait?

..negative, or positive?

..weak or strong?

..an affective or a higher cognitive process?

..self-interested or purely altruistic?

..a trait or learned?

Is Compassion

7/28/2019 What is Compassion?- Emiliana Simon-Thomas

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Affiliative

care/

nurturance

motivation;

wish for

suffering to

end

Emotion

Regulation

Distress

Apathy/Coll

apse Open

presence

Common

Humanity/in-

group vs.

outgroup

Appraisals

Attributions

Moral status

Justice/need/

deservedness

Agency / Self-

Efficacy can

I help?

Empathetic Joy

Effects of compassionate behavior

Emotion

identification

/empathicaccuracy

Behavior

A Componential Model of Compassion

Cost/benefit

analysis

should I help?

Compassion evocation

other

Initial physio

response, a.k.a.

resonance,

contagion

you

other is

suffering

My help will relieve

others suffering

I feel relief!

Empathy

I feel relief too!

Warm glow