Literature Review: Compassion Towards Others

Literature Review: Compassion Towards Others Introduction Compassion towards others is a vital aspect of human interaction and social well-being. It involves understanding and empathizing with the suffering and needs of others, along with a genuine desire to alleviate their pain or improve their situation. This literature review aims to explore the latest research on compassion towards others, examining its psychological, neurological, and social implications. Article 1: Name: Gilbert, P., & Procter, S. (2016). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self-criticism: Overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 23(5), 411-421. Summary: This article discusses the application of compassionate mind training (CMT) in individuals with high levels of shame and self-criticism. The study examines the efficacy of CMT in reducing self-criticism and increasing self-compassion. The findings highlight the potential of CMT in enhancing compassion towards oneself and others. Article 2: Name: Goetz, J. L., Keltner, D., & Simon-Thomas, E. (2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis and empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 351-374. Summary: This article provides an evolutionary analysis of compassion, focusing on its adaptive significance and its role in human social behavior. The review examines empirical research on compassion across various domains, including neuroscience, social psychology, and emotion regulation. The findings support the hypothesis that compassion is an evolved trait that plays a crucial role in promoting prosocial behavior. Article 3: Name: Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Lamm, C., & Singer, T. (2013). Functional neural plasticity and associated changes in positive affect after compassion training. Cerebral Cortex, 23(7), 1552-1561. Summary: This article investigates the neural mechanisms underlying compassion training and its impact on positive affect. The study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine changes in brain activity following compassion training. The findings suggest that compassion training can induce functional neural plasticity and enhance positive affect, providing insights into the neurobiology of compassion. Article 4: Name: Jazaieri, H., McGonigal, K., Jinpa, T., Doty, J. R., Gross, J. J., & Goldin, P. R. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of compassion cultivation training: Effects on mindfulness, affect, and emotion regulation. Motivation and Emotion, 38(1), 23-35. Summary: This article presents a randomized controlled trial of compassion cultivation training (CCT) and its effects on mindfulness, affect, and emotion regulation. The study demonstrates that CCT increases self-reported compassion and positive affect while reducing negative affect. The findings suggest that compassion training can enhance emotional well-being and promote positive psychological outcomes. Article 5: Name: Stellar, J. E., Cohen, A., Oveis, C., & Keltner, D. (2015). Affective and physiological responses to the suffering of others: Compassion and vagal activity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(4), 572-585. Summary: This article investigates the physiological correlates of compassion by examining the relationship between vagal activity (a marker of physiological well-being) and compassionate responses to others' suffering. The study demonstrates that individuals with higher levels of compassion exhibit greater vagal activity, suggesting a link between compassion and physiological health. Conclusion This literature review highlights recent research on compassion towards others, exploring its psychological, neurological, and social dimensions. The reviewed articles provide insights into the efficacy of compassion training in enhancing self-compassion and positive affect, the evolutionary significance of compassion as an adaptive trait, the neural mechanisms underlying compassion training, and the physiological correlates of compassion. Collectively, these studies contribute to our understanding of the importance of compassion towards others for individual well-being and social cohesion. References Gilbert, P., & Procter, S. (2016). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self-criticism: Overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 23(5), 411-421. Goetz, J. L., Keltner, D., & Simon-Thomas, E. (2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis and empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 351-374. Klimecki, O. M., Leiberg, S., Lamm, C., & Singer, T. (2013). Functional neural plasticity and associated changes in positive affect after compassion training. Cerebral Cortex, 23(7), 1552-1561. Jazaieri, H., McGonigal, K., Jinpa, T., Doty, J. R., Gross, J. J., & Goldin, P. R. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of compassion cultivation training: Effects on mindfulness, affect, and emotion regulation. Motivation and Emotion, 38(1), 23-35. Stellar, J. E., Cohen, A., Oveis, C., & Keltner, D. (2015). Affective and physiological responses to the suffering of others: Compassion and vagal activity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(4), 572-585.  

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