Home index page The Compassion Handbook with new Research
Last Updated:
Oct, 2010
This page is a place where the "The Compassion Handbook" will be developed, and edited, over time.  The goal of this handbook is to present an introduction to established ideas about compassion, and then extend from there into some new ideas, such as the theory of compassion development and the compassion space.  It will also be a book that references, makes links to, information on this web site. Hopefully this will further enhance the teaching, understanding and practice of compassion in schools, families and the workplace. It will provide the basic ideas needed to explore becoming a warrior for positive change through the compassion space, and how to teach others to do the same.  The book will also contain contributions from other authors who have studied compassion in their own realms.  A potential list of topics is given below.
Author: W. David Hoisington, Ph. D.

In seeking to present a "Handbook" that speaks to compassion, with the goal of compassion training and improvement,  it is important fundamental questions be clarified.  They are questions linked to the basic assumptions about compassion.  First, there is the hypothesis that people define and understand compassion at different levels.  Second, there is the hypothesis that most people can be taught something about compassion.  Third is the idea that compassion is relational within a compassion space.  There is hardly any research on these theoretical assumptions.  Research on these is on going and will enhance any presentation of a "Handbook".

 Chapter One:
A draft of this paper called "A Philosophy of Compassion" is now ready with the date at the top of the paper.  The 7 assumptions of compassion are described in more detail.  Please note that this is a work in progress and will continue to be updated (check the date).

The myths of compassion are discussed here, along with compassion fatigue
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 Chapter 2: "Understanding Our Compassion Definition- Survey Results"

We are waiting on more surveys to be completed, although some preliminary results are mentioned in other papers.

 Other Possible Chapters
Professionals who have explored the topic of compassion are needed to contribute to this handbook.  We are seeking people who can write a chapter (that includes a strong list of references) on one of the following topics:
                               "Compassion in Medicine: Past, Present and Future"

                               "Religion and Compassion: What do the Sacred Texts Say?"

                               "Compassion from the Caregive Perspective"

                               "The History of Compassion:  A look back through time"

                               "The Compassionate Brain:  Are we wired for compassion?"

                               "Compassion and Mental Health"

                              "How the Media Uses the word Compassion"

                             "Raising Compassionate Children in the Digital Age"

                             "Research and Tools for Building Compassionate Schools"

                             "Guidelines for, and Benefits from, a Compassionate Workplace"

Since this Handbook is to be linked in some way to the research on this website, we would like the authors to address the seven assumptions within their chapter in whatever way they see fits their topic. The seven assuptions will serve as the unifying theme for the book and strenthen the foundation of compassion information for future researchers.
                                

If you have any suggestions for additional topics, or wish to author one of the above topics please send an email.

Chapter 2 and additional chapters will likely be published in a book that can be ordered (when it is completed).

The Compassion Handbook
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