Compassion Is Contagious
Visual mapping of compassionate pro-social behavior
Researchers at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion, Altruism Research and Education used an open-source mapping tool to see how pro-social behaviors and acts of compassion and kindness affected people who witnessed them in a controlled experiment. After five days participants reported lower levels of depression, anger and stress, and higher levels of mindfulness, flourishing and compassion for others. Social scientists call this bounce “elevation,” after a 1771 description by Thomas Jefferson.