Greater Good Science Center
Encyclopedia
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University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to the scientific understanding of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic
Altruism
Altruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
behavior. By studying individuals and their relationships, the center aims to promote well-being in society as a whole. The center was started in 2001 and serves to provide groundbreaking scientific discoveries, as well as translate and disseminate research for the general public. The Center has been cited for its use of hard science to disprove the assumption that humans are hardwired for violence and greed.
Print and online publications
Professor Dacher KeltnerDacher Keltner
Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley as well as the Director for Greater Good Science Center, formerly known as the Center for the Development of Peace and Well-Being. Professor Keltner received his B.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of...
, of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, is the co-editor of the Center's quarterly magazine, Greater Good magazine. The magazine highlights scientific research into the roots of compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
and altruism. It fuses this science with stories of compassion in action, providing a bridge between social scientists and parents, educators, community leaders, and policy makers.
Professor Keltner's new book "Born To Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life," received a starred review from the Library Journal, which described it as "A landmark book in the science of emotion and its implications for ethics and human universals," and "essential for all libraries."
The Center's Director of Greater Good Parents, Christine Carter, PhD, is the creator of the "Raising Happiness" Blog, that provides parents with science-based tools for raising happy kids and is the author of the book Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.
Editors and affiliates
- Richard DavidsonRichard DavidsonRichard J. Davidson is professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-Early life and Education:Born in Brooklyn, Richard "Richie" Davidson attended Midwood High School...
, Ph.D at University of Wisconsin–Madison, known for using rhesus monkeys as models of human neurophysiology and emotional response - Owen FlanaganOwen FlanaganOwen Flanagan, Ph.D. is the James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Neurobiology at Duke University. Flanagan has done work in philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, philosophy of social science, ethics, contemporary ethical theory, moral psychology, as well as Buddhist and...
, Ph.D and Professor of Neurobiology at Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B... - Amitai EtzioniAmitai EtzioniAmitai Etzioni is a German-Israeli-American sociologist.-Biography:In 1933, Amitai Etzioni was only four years old when the Nazis rose to power in Germany. He was separated from his family but reunited with them by the year 1947...
, Israeli-American sociologist and author of 24 books - Paul EkmanPaul EkmanPaul Ekman is a psychologist who has been a pioneer in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions. He has been considered one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century...
, psychologistPsychologistPsychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and pioneer in the study of emotions and facial expressions - Robert FrankRobert FrankRobert Frank , born in Zürich, Switzerland, is an important figure in American photography and film. His most notable work, the 1958 photobook titled The Americans, was influential, and earned Frank comparisons to a modern-day de Tocqueville for his fresh and skeptical outsider's view of American...
, important figure in American philosophy and film (vague description) - Jonathan KozolJonathan KozolJonathan Kozol is a non-fiction writer, educator, and activist, best known for his books on public education in the United States. Kozol graduated from Noble and Greenough School in 1954, and Harvard University summa cum laude in 1958 with a degree in English Literature. He was awarded a Rhodes...
, non-fiction writer, educator, activist on public education - Alfie KohnAlfie KohnAlfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer who has explored a number of topics in education, parenting, and human behavior...
, American lecturer and author on education, psychology, and parenting - Nel NoddingsNel NoddingsNel Noddings is an American feminist, educationalist, and philosopher best known for her work in philosophy of education, educational theory, and ethics of care.-Biography:...
, Ph.D from Stanford, focuses on feminismFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, education, and philosophy - Frans de WaalFrans de WaalFransiscus Bernardus Maria de Waal, PhD , is a Dutch primatologist and ethologist. He is the Charles Howard Candler professor of Primate Behavior in the Emory University psychology department in Atlanta, Georgia, and director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research...
,Ph.D, professor of Primate Behavior at Emory UniversityEmory UniversityEmory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
Past contributors
- Daniel GolemanDaniel GolemanDaniel Jay Goleman is an author, psychologist, and science journalist. For twelve years, he wrote for The New York Times, specializing in psychology and brain sciences. He is the author of more than 10 books on psychology, education, science, and leadership.-Life:Goleman was born in Stockton,...
, internationally renowned author, psychologist, science journalist, and corporate consultant - Howard GardnerHoward GardnerHoward Earl Gardner is an American developmental psychologist who is a professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero and author of over twenty books translated into thirty languages. Since 1995, he has...
, developed theory of multiple intelligencesTheory of multiple intelligencesThe theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983 as a model of intelligence that differentiates intelligence into various specific modalities, rather than seeing it as dominated by a single general ability.... - Arlie Hochschild, professor of sociologySociologySociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, introduced ideas of feeling rulesFeeling rulesFeeling rules are socially shared norms that influence how we want to try to feel emotions in given social relations. This concept was introduced by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild in 1979....
, time bindTime bindTime bind is a concept introduced by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild in 1997 with the publication of her The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work...
, and emotional laborEmotional laborEmotional labor is a form of emotional regulation wherein workers are expected to display certain emotions as part of their job, and to promote organizational goals... - Peter SingerPeter SingerPeter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
, Professor of BioethicsBioethicsBioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
at Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and laureate professor at University of MelbourneUniversity of MelbourneThe University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria... - Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African cleric and recipient of the Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in 1984 - Michael PollanMichael PollanMichael Pollan is an American author, journalist, activist, and professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. A 2006 New York Times book review describes him as a "liberal foodie intellectual."...
, professor of journalismJournalismJournalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... - Barbara EhrenreichBarbara Ehrenreich-Early life:Ehrenreich was born Barbara Alexander to Isabelle Oxley and Ben Howes Alexander in Butte, Montana, which she describes as then being "a bustling, brawling, blue collar mining town."...
, writer, columnist, feminist, and political activist - Rend al-Rahim FranckeRend al-Rahim FranckeRend al-Rahim Francke is an Iraqi political activist who often appears on various current affairs programs. She held the position as Iraqi ambassador to the United States...
, former Iraqi ambassador to the United States, secularist trying to enable Iraq to transfer into a liberal democracy - Philip ZimbardoPhilip ZimbardoPhilip George Zimbardo is an American psychologist and a professor emeritus at Stanford University. He is president of the Heroic Imagination Project...
, psychologistPsychologistPsychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
known for the famous Stanford prison experimentStanford prison experimentThe Stanford prison experiment was a study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. The experiment was conducted from August 14th-20th, 1971, by a team of researchers led by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University...
and author of several psychology textbooks - Jon Kabat-ZinnJon Kabat-ZinnJon Kabat-Zinn is Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Kabat-Zinn was a student of Zen Master Seung Sahn and a founding member of...
, professor Emeritus and founding director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolThe University of Massachusetts Medical School is one of five campuses of the University of Massachusetts system and is home to three schools: the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Graduate School of Nursing; a biomedical research enterprise; and a range of...
. He teaches the Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionMindfulness-based stress reductionMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a structured complementary medicine program that uses mindfulness in an approach that focuses on alleviating pain and on improving physical and emotional well-being for individuals suffering from a variety of diseases and disorders. The program was established...
program, and is committed to promoting secular applications of mindfulnessMindfulness (psychology)Modern clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on the concept of mindfulness in Buddhist meditation.-Definitions:...
Forgiveness
The Fall 2004 Issue featured a cover with Archbishop Desmond Tutu's portrait along with his article titled "Why to Forgive". Drawing on situations from South Africa and several other scenarios, Tutu examined how forgiveness is not only personally rewarding, but also politically necessary in allowing South Africa to have a new beginning. Moreover, Tutu stated that forgiveness is not turning a blind eye to wrongs; true reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the pain, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse. It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring healing.Bystander Effect
The Fall/Winter 2006–2007 Issue feature an article on the Bystander Effect and explained why we sometimes shackle our moral instincts, and how we can set them free. Editors, Dacher KeltnerDacher Keltner
Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley as well as the Director for Greater Good Science Center, formerly known as the Center for the Development of Peace and Well-Being. Professor Keltner received his B.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of...
, Ph.D., and Jason Marsh used the example of Kitty Genovese
Kitty Genovese
Catherine Susan "Kitty" Genovese , was a New York City woman who was stabbed to death near her home in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, New York on March 13, 1964....
, a woman who was murdered while 38 witnesses heard her screams and did nothing to show the negative effects of the bystander effect
Bystander effect
The bystander effect or Genovese syndrome is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases where individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present...
. The editors examine how the bystander effect is involved in many modern activities; the bystander is a modern archetype from the Holocaust to the genocide in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, to the current environmental crisis. Keltner and Marsh also provide several remedies to the bystander effect
Bystander effect
The bystander effect or Genovese syndrome is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases where individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present...
, such as social psychology lectures about the causes of bystander behavior, and actions to take when you are in distress and need to attract the attention of other bystanders.
Reluctance to kill
In the Summer 2007 Issue, Lt. Col. (ret.) Dave GrossmanDave Grossman (author)
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
examines why the vast majority of people are overwhelmingly reluctant to take a human life. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a study was conducted to see on average, what percentage of American troops actually fired on the enemy. It was found that only 15–20 percent of the American riflemen in combat during World War II would fire directly at the enemy. Those who did not fire elected to run or hide—in many cases they were willing to risk greater danger to rescue the injured or get ammunition. Grossman found that there was a reluctance to killing in many other war scenarios as well.
During the 19th-century, Ardant du Picq, a French military officer, documented the common tendency of soldiers to fire harmlessly into the air simply for the sake of firing. In response to this, the military today trains its soldiers to see the enemy as targets, not as fellow humans. The military will even use red paint or ketchup to simulate blood when soldiers hit a target. This type of desensitization process may explain why a highly trained force can often overwhelm an untrained militia; for example, 18 trapped U.S. troops killed an estimated 364 Somali fighters. Grossman continues to talk about re-sensitizing America and how killing must become increasingly rare for this to occur.