What Is Compassion?

The feeling that arises when you encounter another persons suffering and are motivated to help.

Is Compassion
..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?

A Componential Model of Compassion

Compassion evocation

Empathy
other

Initial physio response, a.k.a. resonance, contagion

Appraisals
Emotion Regulation Distress Apathy/Coll apse Open presence Affiliative care/ nurturance motivation; wish for suffering to end Agency / SelfEfficacy can I help?
My help will relieve others suffering

Attributions
Moral status Justice/need/ deservedness Common Humanity/ingroup vs. outgroup Cost/benefit analysis should I help?
I feel relief too!

you

Behavior Effects of compassionate behavior Empathetic Joy

I feel relief!

other is suffering

Emotion identification /empathic accuracy

Warm glow