Daniel Goleman on Compassion

Psychologist Daniel Goleman brought the notion of "EI" to prominence as an alternative to more traditional measures of IQ with his 1995 mega-best-seller  

Since the publication of that book, conferences and academic institutes have sprung up dedicated to the idea. EI is taught in public schools, and corporate leaders have adopted it as a new way of thinking about success and leadership. EI, and one's "EIQ," can be an explanation of why some "average" people are incredibly successful, while "geniuses" sometimes fail to live up to their promise. In this talk, Goleman asks why we aren't more compassionate more of the time.

Discussion questions before you watch the Goleman lectures Hospedagem de Sites:

1.       What does compassion mean to you?  Can you think of a time when someone has shown you compassion?

2.       How can a psychologist make a contribution to a more peaceful or just society?

3.       Daniel Goleman studies the concept of "emotional intelligence."  What do you think it means to be emotionally intelligent?

Discussion questions after you watch the Goleman lecture:

1.       What is the essential change in focus that Daniel Goleman argues causes people to be more compassionate?  How can we encourage people to change their focus? 

2.       Daniel Goleman about being compassionate and aware of others even when we are shopping for t-shirts.  He notes, "the objects that we buy and use have hidden consequences."  How can we use information and technology to bring compassion to our purchases?  Would you be willing to change your shopping habits to benefit the lives of others?

3.       When talking about paying attention to others in the workplace, Daniel Goleman uses the new word "pizzled."  How does he define "pizzled"?  Can you think of a time you felt this way?  How can we show more compassion towards others in the work place?

4.       Daniel Goleman describes a time when he decided to show compassion for someone in trouble in the New York subway.  When he paused to help the man, he remembers, "half a dozen other people immediately ringed the same guy."  He had created a space for others to participate in helping the man. Why did his show of compassion encourage other people to come forward to help? 

5.       How do you think the compassion by an individual for individuals that Daniel Goleman describes can bring about more social justice in the world?  How do our personal actions make a difference?