WSP 66 — The Science and Practice of Strengthening Compassion
Spring
Saturday
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Date(s)
May 14
1 day
Drop By
May 7
0 Units
Fees
$160
Format
On-campus course
Limit 50
Open
Compassion can be defined as the desire to relieve suffering, rooted in a sense of connection, caring, and courage. In this course, we will explore both the latest scientific research on compassion and the practical considerations for strengthening compassion in everyday life. We will explore the evolutionary and biological basis of compassion, how culture shapes who we feel empathy for, the most common barriers to compassion, and how compassion can be learned. We will also discuss the importance of self-compassion, how to deal with compassion fatigue, and how to translate a compassionate mindset into meaningful action.
The instructor for this course is a program developer and instructor for the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), which is striving to create a community of scholars and researchers, including neuroscientists, psychologists, neuroeconomists, and contemplative scholars, in order to undertake a rigorous scientific study of the neural, mental, and social bases of compassion and altruistic behavior through a wide spectrum of disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology, economics, and contemplative traditions.
The instructor for this course is a program developer and instructor for the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), which is striving to create a community of scholars and researchers, including neuroscientists, psychologists, neuroeconomists, and contemplative scholars, in order to undertake a rigorous scientific study of the neural, mental, and social bases of compassion and altruistic behavior through a wide spectrum of disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology, economics, and contemplative traditions.
This workshop will be recorded. Students are required to sign a video release waiver upon registration. Due to its short format, this workshop may not be taken for a Letter Grade.
Kelly McGonigal, Senior Teacher, Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), Stanford
Kelly McGonigal teaches for a wide range of programs at Stanford, including the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Business. In collaboration with CCARE, she has conducted scientific research on the benefits of compassion training. She has received the Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stanford. She is the author of The Upside of Stress and The Willpower Instinct. McGonigal received a PhD in psychology from Stanford.Textbooks for this course:
(Recommended) Thupten Jinpa , A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives (ISBN 1594632626)