Title: Non-dual compassion: Do changes in perspectives on the self and others affect how we interact with the world?
Department: Psychology
Description: Compassion research primarily utilizes training historically rooted from Buddhist practices, where there is no distinction between the self and other. Individualistic societies tend to disregard this notion of no-self and move towards a dualistic distinction. Meaning, modern research is drawing from a framework where there is a different applicability of teachings. The intent of this interdisciplinary project is to examine the role of self- vs other-focused compassion and its effects on well-being. First, we aim to conduct an extensive, exploratory literature review, spanning from psychology to religious studies, on research done in concepts pertaining to compassion, personal, and pro-social outcomes. Second, we aim to consolidate information gathered from the literature review to create, then implement, a compassion intervention program tailored for college students in the Western world presented in a secular manner that doesn't differentiate self and other (a non-dual approach) and compare it with a dualistic intervention presentation.
Hometown: Chantilly, Virginia
Advisor: Adrian Bravo
Each William & Mary Honors Fellowships donation supports the whole Charles Center Honors Fellowships Fund. Donations inspired by specific research projects are distributed by the Charles Center in a way that benefits this project and others. To learn more about Honors Fellowships, please visit our website.