Compassion: An Evolved Response to Suffering. (What is Compassion? How it Evolved)

Monday, April 11, 2011

Jennifer Goetz

Professor
Middlebury College

In this talk, I integrate evolutionary arguments that converge on the argue that compassion evolved as a distinct affective experience whose primary function is to facilitate; cooperation and protection of the weak and those who suffer. I review new evidence that compassion is a distinct emotion and provide insight into the appraisal and experiential aspects of this emotion.