The Arithmetic of Compassion blog connects new research and current events to concepts discussed on Arithmetic of Compassion website, such as psychic numbing, pseudoinefficacy, and the prominence effect.
The mission of the Arithmetic of Compassion Website is to raise awareness of psychological obstacles to compassion, including psychic numbing, pseudoinefficacy, and the prominence effect. We also discuss how artists can use literature and art to overcome these obstacles to compassion in our Environmental Humanities page.
Read our Introduction to learn more.
We welcome scholars, journalists, students, and ordinary, concerned citizens to write blogs for our website that connect the concepts of the Arithmetic of Compassion to current events. Contact us at arithmeticofcompassion@gmail.com to submit a blog.
In this keynote address in June 2016, "Enchanting the Earth's Data with Meaning: Information and Emotion Channeled through Environmental Literature and Art," Scott Slovic shares some of the key concepts from Numbers and Nerves.
What psychological phenomena stop us from taking action in the face of genocide or other mass atrocities? Why do we respond to the needs of one person, but not to 'the many?' Arithmetic of Compassion addresses these issues with scientific studies, with the goal of helping journalists, educators, politicians, and the general public to better understand and combat the impact of psychic numbing and other processes that lead to lowered compassion.
Website designed by Katie Dwyer www.KatieDwyer.co and maintained by Decision Research, a research institute that investigates decision making. Decision Research is a registered nonprofit with 501(c)3 designation. All original content is copyright of Decision Research.
The banner image is a photograph of the Kigali Memorial Centre by Radu Sigheti. The Kigali Memorial Centre contains a gallery of photographs depicting victims of the Rwandan genocide. The remains of 250,000 victims are interred at the center.
The material on this website is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.
