The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain
The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer offers a succinct, all-in-one introduction to the full gamut of compassion, from the evolutional, biological, behavioural, and psychological, to the social, philosophical, and spiritual. Drawing on her diverse background as a clinician, scientist, educator, and chaplain, Dr. Wong presents a wealth of scientific evidence supporting that compassion is both innate and trainable. By interleaving personal experiences and reflections, she shares her insights on what it takes to cultivate compassion to support the art of medicine and caregiving. The training described in this book draws on both contemplative and scientific disciplines to help clinicians develop cognitive, attentional, affective, and somatic skills that are critical for the cultivation of compassion. With striking illustrations for key concepts and concise summaries for each chapter, this book provides a solid conceptual framework and practical approaches to cultivate compassion.

Advance Praise for The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer

“Well-written, deeply personal and scientifically-grounded, this book provides strong physiological, psychological, and ethical reasons why cultivating compassion is essential—and provides a thoughtful roadmap for promoting compassion in healthcare and in all of life.”
- Ron Epstein, MD, author of Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity

“Dr. Agnes Wong, a highly distinguished physician and exceptional researcher at the University of Toronto, has written an absolutely uplifting masterpiece about meaning, compassionate care, and the universal journey that all healers must take to sustain their inner being and nobility of purpose. This book is partly her journey to a deeper state of being that places compassionate care in its rightful place in the healing art; it is also a fabulous scientific presentation of the practice and impact of compassionate care on patients and on one's own flourishing as a physician. This is a book that touches the soul and should be read by every medical student or clinician worldwide as they reflect on what it means to really succeed in their “whole selves” as healers and human beings.”
- Stephen G. Post, PhD, Director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics; Professor of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University

"Compassion and empathy are traits that make us human, and as Dr. Wong shows, these qualities can be developed, encouraged, and cultivated. In our struggling world, we need this awareness as never before. The future of our species likely depends on it. This book is an example of how science and spirituality can come together in a brilliant synthesis."
- Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters
1138442797
The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain
The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer offers a succinct, all-in-one introduction to the full gamut of compassion, from the evolutional, biological, behavioural, and psychological, to the social, philosophical, and spiritual. Drawing on her diverse background as a clinician, scientist, educator, and chaplain, Dr. Wong presents a wealth of scientific evidence supporting that compassion is both innate and trainable. By interleaving personal experiences and reflections, she shares her insights on what it takes to cultivate compassion to support the art of medicine and caregiving. The training described in this book draws on both contemplative and scientific disciplines to help clinicians develop cognitive, attentional, affective, and somatic skills that are critical for the cultivation of compassion. With striking illustrations for key concepts and concise summaries for each chapter, this book provides a solid conceptual framework and practical approaches to cultivate compassion.

Advance Praise for The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer

“Well-written, deeply personal and scientifically-grounded, this book provides strong physiological, psychological, and ethical reasons why cultivating compassion is essential—and provides a thoughtful roadmap for promoting compassion in healthcare and in all of life.”
- Ron Epstein, MD, author of Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity

“Dr. Agnes Wong, a highly distinguished physician and exceptional researcher at the University of Toronto, has written an absolutely uplifting masterpiece about meaning, compassionate care, and the universal journey that all healers must take to sustain their inner being and nobility of purpose. This book is partly her journey to a deeper state of being that places compassionate care in its rightful place in the healing art; it is also a fabulous scientific presentation of the practice and impact of compassionate care on patients and on one's own flourishing as a physician. This is a book that touches the soul and should be read by every medical student or clinician worldwide as they reflect on what it means to really succeed in their “whole selves” as healers and human beings.”
- Stephen G. Post, PhD, Director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics; Professor of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University

"Compassion and empathy are traits that make us human, and as Dr. Wong shows, these qualities can be developed, encouraged, and cultivated. In our struggling world, we need this awareness as never before. The future of our species likely depends on it. This book is an example of how science and spirituality can come together in a brilliant synthesis."
- Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters
46.99 In Stock
The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain

The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain

The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain

The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer: Reflections of a Physician-Chaplain

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Overview

The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer offers a succinct, all-in-one introduction to the full gamut of compassion, from the evolutional, biological, behavioural, and psychological, to the social, philosophical, and spiritual. Drawing on her diverse background as a clinician, scientist, educator, and chaplain, Dr. Wong presents a wealth of scientific evidence supporting that compassion is both innate and trainable. By interleaving personal experiences and reflections, she shares her insights on what it takes to cultivate compassion to support the art of medicine and caregiving. The training described in this book draws on both contemplative and scientific disciplines to help clinicians develop cognitive, attentional, affective, and somatic skills that are critical for the cultivation of compassion. With striking illustrations for key concepts and concise summaries for each chapter, this book provides a solid conceptual framework and practical approaches to cultivate compassion.

Advance Praise for The Art and Science of Compassion, A Primer

“Well-written, deeply personal and scientifically-grounded, this book provides strong physiological, psychological, and ethical reasons why cultivating compassion is essential—and provides a thoughtful roadmap for promoting compassion in healthcare and in all of life.”
- Ron Epstein, MD, author of Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity

“Dr. Agnes Wong, a highly distinguished physician and exceptional researcher at the University of Toronto, has written an absolutely uplifting masterpiece about meaning, compassionate care, and the universal journey that all healers must take to sustain their inner being and nobility of purpose. This book is partly her journey to a deeper state of being that places compassionate care in its rightful place in the healing art; it is also a fabulous scientific presentation of the practice and impact of compassionate care on patients and on one's own flourishing as a physician. This is a book that touches the soul and should be read by every medical student or clinician worldwide as they reflect on what it means to really succeed in their “whole selves” as healers and human beings.”
- Stephen G. Post, PhD, Director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics; Professor of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University

"Compassion and empathy are traits that make us human, and as Dr. Wong shows, these qualities can be developed, encouraged, and cultivated. In our struggling world, we need this awareness as never before. The future of our species likely depends on it. This book is an example of how science and spirituality can come together in a brilliant synthesis."
- Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780197551387
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 12/23/2020
Pages: 216
Product dimensions: 8.10(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dr. Agnes M.F. Wong, MD, PhD, FRCSC, is Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Psychology at the University of Toronto, and an active staff Ophthalmologist at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In addition to her clinical and academic work, she is also a trained chaplain whose work combines mindfulness, compassion, reflective practices, and system thinking to enhance wellness at the personal, interpersonal, and system level.

Table of Contents

Foreword Roshi Joan Halifax xi

Foreword Gregory L. Fricchione xv

Preface xvii

1 What Are Empathy and Compassion?

A Western Perspective 1

Introduction 1

Empathy 2

Compassion 5

Survival of the Kindest 9

Summary of Key Points 10

2 Is Compassion Innate? A Physiological Perspective 15

The Autonomic Nervous System 16

The Neuroendocrine System 17

Behavioural Genetics 19

Physiological Benefits of Compassion 21

Summary of Key Points 23

3 Is Compassion Innate? A Psychological Perspective 29

Evolutionary Psychology: The Emotion Systems 29

Developmental Psychology: The Attachment and Caregiving Behavioural Systems 32

Psychological Benefits of Compassion 37

Summary of Key Points 38

4 Is Compassion Innate? Spiritual and Eastern perspectives 45

An Overview of Spiritual Perspectives 45

Confucianism and the Golden Rule 48

Daoism and the Way 49

Buddhist Perspective on Compassion 49

The Four Immeasurables 52

Summary of Key Points 59

5 East Meets West: Is Compassion Trainable? A Neuroscientific Perspective 63

Mindfulness: Attentional Foundations of Compassion Practice 63

The Practice of Compassion and Loving-Kindness 70

Neuroplasticity: Compassion Is Both Innate and a Trainable Skill 76

Science and the Relative Truth 77

Summary of Key Points 79

6 What Are the Obstacles to Compassion? 89

Obstacles to Compassion for Others 89

Obstacles to Receiving Compassion from Others and Self 92

Obstacles to Compassion in Healthcare 95

Summary of Key Points 105

7 What Does It Take to Cultivate Compassion? 113

Positive Disintegration and the Edge States 113

The A.B.I.D.E. and G.R.A.C.E. Models of Cultivating Compassion 114

Inner Compassion and Its Benefits 119

Compassionate Leadership to Build a Compassionate Culture 124

System Changes for Compassionate Healthcare 127

Benefits of Compassion in Healthcare 129

Summary of Key Points 132

8 A Wholistic Approach to a Compassionate and Flourishing Life 147

Psychological Well-Being 147

Ethics and Moral Resilience 148

Social Engagement 152

A Transcendental Life 154

Summary of Key Points 155

Postface 159

Rites of Passage 159

The Three Tenets 162

Being with Living and Dying 164

A Koan 166

Acknowledgements 171

Resources 175

Currently Available Compassion-Based Trainings/Interventions 175

Further Reading 177

General Websites on Mindfulness and Compassion 180

About the Author 181

Index 183

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