The Cambridge Dictionaries define the word compassion as: a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help themA sample might be when you see a homeless kid, suffering the cold of the winter, and you would like to help him have a warm home for at least one night. This desire is very powerful in some people, such that they become altruists (preferring benefits of others over their personal benefits) and very weak in some other people (egoists who prefer their benefits over benefit of other people).Is there any analysis for this attribute in cognitive sciences (or behaviorism)? By any analysis I mean are they being studied under the domain of cognitive sciences or not, and if so, what are the most known and accepted theories for them?
Does cognitive & behavioral schools have any analysis for sympathy & compassion?
social psychology;emotion;reference request;prosocial behavior