Delve into the profound connection between compassion and evolution in this enlightening talk by Paul Gilbert. Discover how Compassion Focus Therapy, deeply rooted in understanding affiliative processing, offers insights into our motivations. Explore compassion as a potent motivation, encompassing sensitivity to suffering and an unwavering commitment to alleviating it. Gilbert unveils the core elements of compassion—courage to confront suffering and a resolute dedication to its relief. Learn how compassion intertwines with self-identity, the timeless Golden Rule, and ethical considerations. Gain fresh perspective on compassion's true essence: not mere niceness, but an active engagement with and transformation of suffering. Join us for a thought-provoking journey into the depths of human empathy and evolution.
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Professor Paul Gilbert, FBPsS, PhD, OBE is a British clinical psychologist, the founder of compassion focused therapy (CFT), compassionate mind training (CMT) and author of books such as The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life’s Challenges, Overcoming Depression.
He has researched evolutionary approaches to psychopathology for over 40 years with a special focus on the roles of mood, shame and self-criticism in various mental health difficulties for which Compassion Focused Therapy was developed. Professor Gilbert has written/edited 21 books and over 200 papers. In 2006 he established the Compassionate Mind Foundation as an international charity with the mission statement: “To promote wellbeing through the scientific understanding and application of compassion”.
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Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Compassion as a Motivation
01:10 - Evolutionary Motivations and Their Mechanisms
02:13 - Anatomy of Compassion
03:16 - Compassion in Action
04:45 - Ethics and Compassion
06:20 - Compassion vs. Callousness
08:26 - Compassion and Meaning
09:32 - The DNA of Compassion
11:21 - Nature and Nurture in Compassion
12:55 - Consciousness and Mortality
15:34 - The Complex Self and Social Construction
16:05 - Contextual Influence on Identity
16:36 - Evolutionary Tragedies and Coping
17:41 - Motives, Emotions, and Competencies
19:16 - Emotions as Functional Signposts
21:25 - Compassion: Beyond Love and Kindness
22:37 - Human Evolution and Motivational Systems
23:43 - Consciousness, Self-Awareness, and Loops
25:24 - Pro-Social Behavior and Ethical Dilemmas
26:33 - Human Brain Complexity and Evolution
27:39 - Understanding Consciousness
28:45 - Loops, Emotions, and Mental Health
29:47 - Human Behavior's Light and Dark Sides
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Interview Links:
— Professor Gilbert's website: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk
— Compassion Focused Therapy: Clinical Practice and Application: https://amzn.to/3ReGXAR
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3 Books Professor Gilbert Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:
— The Discovery Of The Unconscious - Henri Ellenberger: https://amzn.to/3uzAWVF
— Archetype: A Natural History of the Self - Anthony Stevens: https://amzn.to/3PeTL8F
— Civilized to Death - Chris Ryan: https://amzn.to/3yuzOnE