The Oxford Handbook Of Compassion Science (oxford Library Of Psychology)

Preparing link to download Please wait... Download

E-Book Overview

How do we define compassion? Is it an emotional state, a motivation, a dispositional trait, or a cultivated attitude? How does it compare to altruism and empathy? Chapters in this Handbook present critical scientific evidence about compassion in numerous conceptions. All of these approaches to thinking about compassion are valid and contribute importantly to understanding how we respond to others who are suffering. Covering multiple levels of our lives and self-concept, from the individual, to the group, to the organization and culture, The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science gathers evidence and models of compassion that treat the subject of compassion science with careful scientific scrutiny and concern. It explores the motivators of compassion, the effect on physiology, the co-occurrence of wellbeing, and compassion training interventions. Sectioned by thematic approaches, it pulls together basic and clinical research ranging across neurobiological, developmental, evolutionary, social, clinical, and applied areas in psychology such as business and education. In this sense, it comprises one of the first multidisciplinary and systematic approaches to examining compassion from multiple perspectives and frames of reference. With contributions from well-established scholars as well as young rising stars in the field, this Handbook bridges a wide variety of diverse perspectives, research methodologies, and theory, and provides a foundation for this new and rapidly growing field. It should be of great value to the new generation of basic and applied researchers examining compassion, and serve as a catalyst for academic researchers and students to support and develop the modern world. Review "A comprehensive and brilliant collection of essays on the contours of compassion." -- Joan Halifax, PhD, Abbott, Upaya Zen Center "This is a masterpiece of comprehensive clarity about a profound and sometimes murky subject-compassion-that is particularly relevant to our world today. Carefully edited, thoroughly referenced, and spanning a wide range of topics, the chapters within it come from world-class experts who summarize what's known and then break new ground. With many practical implications, this is one of the rare scholarly books that both educates the mind and lifts the heart." -- Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom "The collection provides a fascinating prism of inter- and transdisciplinary exploration of compassion, and is a valuable source for researchers in wide array of academic fields. This is an enchanting read for anyone wishing to understand the essential role of compassion in the everyday encounters between individuals in organizations of different sizes, but also in pondering better-functioning societal structures." --Anne Birgitta Pessi, Director of Projects CoPassion and CoCare, and Professor Church and Social Studies, University of Helsinki "A ground-breaking integration of behavioral, social, and biological perspectives on compassion. This volume debuts a new field at the consilience of moral philosophy and empirical science." -- Steve Cole, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine "From the intricacies of modern compassion science, through to the practical applications for compassion clinically and in daily life, this timely volume is set to motivate, inspire, and embolden compassionate action around the world." -- Stan Steindl, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Psychology Consultants Pty Ltd, and Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Psychology, University of Queensland Read less About the Author Emma M. Seppälä, PhD, is Science Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism