In: Biology
define compassion
Compassion is defined as: a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for other people's suffering or bad luck and desire to help them.
it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.
Scientific Approaches to Compassion:
A relatively recent approach to understanding compassion comes from scientific research and attempts to map the biological basis of compassion, including taking measurements of activity in the vagus nerve, heart rate, the secretion of the “bonding hormone” oxytocin, and activity in various regions of the brain.
The Greater Good Science Center, based at the University of California, Berkeley, which studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, provides a practical definition and one that may be useful for community builders:
Compassion is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.