Cited by 442Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsExperimental Behavioral Economics StudiesPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 69 of the 69 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 25 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game

Open access

Leiberg, Susanne, Klimecki, Olga, Singer, Tania·2011·PLoS ONE

DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0017798PMC PMC3052380

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Abstract

Compassion has been suggested to be a strong motivator for prosocial behavior. While research has demonstrated that compassion training has positive effects on mood and health, we do not know whether it also leads to increases in prosocial behavior. We addressed this question in two experiments. In Experiment 1, we introduce a new prosocial game, the Zurich Prosocial Game (ZPG), which allows for repeated, ecologically valid assessment of prosocial behavior and is sensitive to the influence of reciprocity, helping cost, and distress cues on helping behavior. Experiment 2 shows that helping behavior in the ZPG increased in participants who had received short-term compassion training, but not in participants who had received short-term memory training. Interindividual differences in practice duration were specifically related to changes in the amount of helping under no-reciprocity conditions. Our results provide first evidence for the positive impact of short-term compassion training on prosocial behavior towards strangers in a training-unrelated task.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Short-term compassion training increased prosocial helping toward strangers in a newly developed Zurich Prosocial Game (ZPG), whereas memory training did not. The ZPG also showed sensitivity to reciprocity, helping cost, and distress cues, and compassion training effects were observed two to five days after training.

Key findings

In Experiment 1 (N = 68), helping in the ZPG was higher in reciprocity trials, low-cost trials, and distress-cue trials: main effects were reciprocity, F(67) = 73.22, p < .001, partial η² = .52; cost, F(67) = 73.78, p < .001, partial η² = .52; distress, F(67) = 7.02, p = .01, partial η² = .10.
ZPG helping correlated with dictator-game giving, ρ(65) = .35, p = .004, but not with memory-task performance, ρ(64) = .06, p > .05, supporting convergent and divergent validity.
In Experiment 2, compassion training significantly increased helping from pre- to post-training, t(26) = 1.85, p = .04, one-sided, while memory training did not, t(31) = −1.20, p = .24; the time × training interaction was F(1,57) = 4.09, p = .05, partial η² = .07.
Reported compassion practice hours correlated with increased helping in no-reciprocity trials, ρ(17) = .39, p = .05, one-sided, but not with total helping, ρ(17) = .27, p = .13. Dictator-game giving did not change after training, F(1,56) = .02, p = .89.

Methods

Two experiments with healthy female volunteers: Experiment 1 validated the ZPG in 68 participants; Experiment 2 tested compassion versus memory training in 69 participants, with 27 compassion and 32 memory participants in the reported samples.
The ZPG used a 2 × 2 × 2 within-subjects design: reciprocity (no reciprocity, reciprocity), cost (low, high), and distress (no distress cues, distress cues); participants navigated a maze, could help an ostensible co-player by donating keys, and could collect stars to control for attention.
Experiment 2 compared a one-day, six-hour compassion meditation workshop with a one-day method-of-loci memory workshop; pre-test occurred one to two weeks before training and post-test two to five days after training. Analyses used repeated-measures ANOVAs, t-tests, and correlations.

Limitations

The paper states that future research with longer training and bigger sample sizes is needed to determine how long-lasting the effects are and who benefits; it also notes that the study was not designed to test the distinction between compassion-based and norm-based prosocial behavior.
The paper states that self-reported practice data were available only from a subset of participants (n = 19 compassion, n = 22 memory), and that mechanisms such as relaxation or perceived self-other overlap were not isolated.
Evident from the text: both experiments included only healthy female volunteers aged 18–35 from the University of Zurich and surrounding community, limiting generalizability; the compassion-training effect was tested one-sided based on directional hypotheses.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0017798

Cites

69 of 69 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 25 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“which allows for repeated, ecologically valid assessment of prosocial behavior and is sensitive to the influence of reciprocity, helping cost, and distress cues on helping behavior.”
- Also stated in: § Experiment 1 · hedged
  “Thus, the ZPG indeed seems to be sensitive to the three operationalizations of the influencing factors”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Abstract
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes

Show all 52 claims

It may state two separate claims as one. 27
Probably not a substantial claim. 34
The quote only partly states this claim. 1

A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“helping in no-reciprocity trials, but not helping in reciprocity trials, was related to interindividual differences in reported training hours in the compassion group.”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Discussion
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
It may state two separate claims as one.
- Rests on an assumption: Participants' self-reported time spent practicing outside of training accurately reflects their actual practice duration.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“This compassion meditation technique (called “Metta” in Pali) aims to foster an attitude of loving kindness, emotional positivity, benevolence, and friendliness towards oneself and others [20], [58].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Materials and Methods > Procedure
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [20] JW Carson, 2005, Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain: Results from a pilot trial., J Holist Nurs source
- Not checked yetcites [58] S Salzberg, 1995, Loving-kindness: The revolutionary art of happiness.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“The more time participants had actually spent training, the stronger the reduction in interleukin-6 release, suggesting a dose-dependent effect of compassion training.”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [23] TWW Pace, 2009, Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress., Psychoneuroendocrinology source
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“To assess the convergent validity of the ZPG, participants played the dictator game [31].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Materials and Methods > Measures
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [31] E Hoffman, 1994, Preferences, property rights, and anonymity in bargaining games., Games Econ Behav source
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“The present results support the notion that similar to situation-specific induction of empathic concern for a specific person in need [8], [49], the training of compassionate motivation leads to increases in prosocial behavior.”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Discussion
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [8] CD Batson, 1991, The altruism question: Towards a social-psychological answer.
- Not checked yetcites [49] N Eisenberg, 1987, The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors., Psychol Bull source
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Ultimately, this should lead to an attitude of emotional positivity, benevolence, and friendliness towards oneself and others [58].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Materials and Methods > Procedure
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [58] S Salzberg, 1995, Loving-kindness: The revolutionary art of happiness.
Load-bearingStrength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“The memory control group underwent a one-day training workshop in the method of loci, a technique used to memorize items in an ordered sequence [59], [60].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Materials and Methods > Procedure
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [59] GH Bower, 1970, Analysis of a mnemonic device., Am Sci
- Not checked yetcites [60] P Verhaeghen, 1996, On the mechanisms of plasticity in young and older adults after instruction in the method of loci: Evidence for an amplification model., Psychol Aging source
Strength:plain· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“Six to seven weeks of meditation-based compassion training result in increases in positive mood and life satisfaction [21]”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [21] BL Fredrickson, 2008, Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources., J Pers Soc Psychol source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Thus, as in compassion-focused therapy [7], compassion here is trained as a skill.”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Materials and Methods > Procedure
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [7] P Gilbert, 2010, Compassion-focused therapy. source
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
In the paper
“Giving in the dictator game is likely driven by fairness norms and not by kindness [35].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [35] GE Bolton, 1998, Dictator game giving: Rules of fairness versus acts of kindness., Int J Game Theory source
Load-bearingStrength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
In the paper
“if the costs of helping are low [41]”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [41] JF Dovidio, 1991, The arousal-cost-reward model and the process of intervention: A review of the evidence.
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“only recently a differentiation between norm-based and compassion-based prosocial behavior has been suggested [2].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [2] T Singer, 2009, Differential roles of fairness- and compassion-based motivations for cooperation, defection, and punishment., Ann NY Acad Sci source
Load-bearingStrength:hedged· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“It has been shown that people help more often if they have been helped before [39], [40]”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [39] A Falk, 2006, A theory of reciprocity., Games Econ Behav source
- Not checked yetcites [40] H Wilke, 1970, The obligation to help: The effects of amount 41. of prior help on subsequent helping behavior., J Exp Soc Psychol source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“as well as a reduction of interleukin-6 release in response to a psychosocial stressor [23].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [23] TWW Pace, 2009, Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress., Psychoneuroendocrinology source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“it has been demonstrated [10] that momentarily inducing feelings of empathic concern for a person in need by having participants focus on the person's feelings increases their prosocial behavior towards that person.”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [10] CD Batson, 2007, An additional antecedent of empathic concern: Valuing the welfare of the person in need., J Pers Soc Psychol source
Load-bearingStrength:boosted· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“if they are confronted with signs of distress [42], [43].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [42] CD Batson, 1981, Empathy: A source of altruistic motivation for helping?
- Not checked yetcites [43] G Carlo, 1991, The altruistic personality: When is it apparent?, J Pers Soc Psychol source
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
In the paper
“Hutcherson et al. [25] report that a very brief (7-min) compassion meditation exercise results in a more positive attitude towards the target of the exercise.”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Introduction
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [25] CA Hutcherson, 2008, Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness., Emotion source
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
Probably not a substantial claim.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Only female participants were included in Experiments 1 and 2 because of better performance in emotional tasks [53] and higher self-reported empathy in women [54].”
§ Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game > Materials and Methods > Participants
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [53] AM Kring, 1998, Sex differences in emotion: Expression, experience, and physiology., J Pers Soc Psychol source
- Not checked yetcites [54] S Baron-Cohen, 2004, The empathy quotient: An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences., J Autism Dev Disord source
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibrated
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes
It may state two separate claims as one.

51 of 51

The authors state this as an assumption.
Compassion training has effects on compassion-based prosocial behavior (and not on norm-based prosocial behavior).
“Based on the suggested distinction between compassion-based and norm-based prosocial behavior, and on the assumption that the compassion training has effects on the former this correlation could possibly only arise for non-reciprocity trials.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Participants' self-reported time spent practicing outside of training accurately reflects their actual practice duration.
“we calculated the correlation between participants' self-reported time spent praticing outside of the training and the change in helping from pre- to post-training (self-report data could only be obtained from a subset of the samples: n compassion = 19, n memory = 22).”
The paper relies on this without support.
Participants believed the cover story that they were playing with real co-players in other research institutes.
“They were told that they would play interactive computer games via the internet with other participants in different research institutes across Europe in order to investigate cross-cultural differences in interpersonal behaviors. In reality, there were no co-players; the ostensible co-players' behavior was pre-programmed.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The compassion and memory training workshops were equivalent in all aspects other than the trained skill, including teacher characteristics and participant expectations.
“This particular mnemonic technique was chosen for the control group as it contains most elements also needed in the compassion training workshops: People need to actively engage in inner mental processing and to create active mental images and specific associations between items. The difference is that the memory group focuses purely on improving cognitive rather than affective skills.”

4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

ConsistentF(1, 67) = 17.73reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001
“F(1,67) = 17.73, p < .001”
ConsistentF(1, 68) = 1.89reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .174
“F(1,68) = 1.89, p > .05”
Consistentt(52) = 1.78reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .081
“t(52) = 1.78, p > .05”
ConsistentF(1, 54) = 23.47reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001
“F(1,54) = 23.47, p < .001”
ConsistentF(1, 54) = 5.84reported p = .02 · recomputed p = .019
“F(1,54) = 5.84, p = .02”
ConsistentF(1, 54) = 3.61reported p = .06 · recomputed p = .063
“F(1,54) = 3.61, p = .06”
Consistentt(23) = 2.66reported p = .01 · recomputed p = .014
“t(23) = 2.66, p = .01”
ConsistentF(1, 68) = 6.11reported p = .016 · recomputed p = .016
“F(1,68) = 6.11, p = .016”
Consistentt(23) = -1.94reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .065
“t(23) = −1.94, p = .03”
The paper states a one-tailed test
Consistentt(23) = 2.02reported p = .05 · recomputed p = .055
“t(23) = 2.02, p = .05”
ConsistentF(1, 57) = 4.09reported p = .05 · recomputed p = .048
“F(1,57) = 4.09, p = .05”
Consistentt(31) = -1.2reported p = .24 · recomputed p = .239
“t(31) = −1.20, p = .24”
Consistentt(26) = 1.85reported p = .04 · recomputed p = .076
“t(26) = 1.85, p = .04”
The paper states a one-tailed test
ConsistentF(1, 57) = 6.76reported p = .01 · recomputed p = .012
“F(1,57) = 6.76, p = .01”
ConsistentF(1, 57) = 4.55reported p = .04 · recomputed p = .037
“F(1,57) = 4.55, p = .04”
Consistentt(57) = 1.21reported p = .23 · recomputed p = .231
“t(57) = 1.21, p = .23”
Consistentt(57) = 0.55reported p = .58 · recomputed p = .584
“t(57) = .55, p = .58”
Consistentt(57) = 3.07reported p = .003 · recomputed p = .003
“t(57) = 3.07, p = .003”
Consistentt(57) = 2.27reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .027
“t(57) = 2.27, p = .03”
ConsistentF(1, 56) = 0.02reported p = .89 · recomputed p = .888
“F(1,56) = .02, p = .89”
ConsistentF(1, 56) = 1.63reported p = .21 · recomputed p = .207
“F(1,56) = 1.63, p = .21”
Consistentt(32) = 0.57reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .573
“t(32) = .57, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = 1.75reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .090
“t(32) = 1.75, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = -0.81reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .424
“t(32) = −.81, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = 1.7reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .099
“t(32) = 1.70, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = -0.75reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .459
“t(32) = −.75, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = -0.79reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .435
“t(32) = −.79, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = -0.99reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .330
“t(32) = −.99, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = 1.42reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .165
“t(32) = 1.42, p > .05”
Consistentt(32) = -0.06reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .953
“t(32) = −.06, p > .05”
Consistentt(57) = 1.98reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .053
“t(57) = 1.98, p > .05”
Consistentt(57) = 0.64reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .525
“t(57) = .64, p > .05”
Consistentt(54) = 1.91reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .061
“t(54) = 1.91, p > .05”
Consistentt(54) = 0.1reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .921
“t(54) = .1, p > .05”
Consistentt(57) = 0.89reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .377
“t(57) = .89, p > .05”
Consistentt(57) = 0.87reported p > .05 · recomputed p = .388
“t(57) = .87, p > .05”

36 of 36

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

Incorrect percentage for memory-group education
Minor
The table lists one apprenticeship participant in a memory-training sample of 32. One out of 32 is 3.125%, not 6.3%.
Reported 6.3 · recomputed 3.125
Negative-mood ANOVA degrees of freedom exceed the sample size
Minor
For a two-group repeated-measures ANOVA, a denominator degree of freedom of 68 requires at least 70 participants. Experiment 2 enrolled only 69, even before any incomplete data are excluded.

2 of 2

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Comparison of Beck Depression Inventories -IA and -II in psychiatric outpatients
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The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure
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Research works printed but not linked: 1

H Rockliff, 2008, Heart rate variability and salivary cortisol responses to compassion-focused imagery., J Clin Neuropsychiatry, 5, 132

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Items 201–300 of 442

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Sak, R., Eşref, N. A. S., Şahin-Sak, İ. T., Şendil, Ç. Ö., Tekin-Sitrava, R., Taşkın, N., KARDEŞ, S., Yayla, A., & Dirik, Y. (2021) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/00332941211061701 · Cited by 19
“It has also been argued that compassion ensures the socialisation of the individual (Curtis et al., 2012), improves prosocial behaviours (Leiberg et al., 2011), reduces levels of stress and anxiety (Jazaieri et al., 2018) and reinforces people’s sense of social justice (Williams, 2008).”
Background
Increased empathic distress in adults is associated with higher levels of childhood maltreatment
Benz, A., Dimitroff, S. J., Jeggle, C., Gaertner, R. J., Meier, M., Unternäehrer, E., Bentele, U. U., Denk, B., Klink, E. S. C., & Pruessner, J. C. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-30891-7 · Cited by 17
Inspired to Lend a Hand? Attempts to Elicit Prosocial Behavior Through Goal Contagion
Brohmer, H., Fauler, A., Floto, C., Athenstaedt, U., Kedia, G., Eckerstorfer, L. V., & Corcoran, K. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00545 · Cited by 20
Pozitif Psikolojide Güncel Bir Kavram: Merhamet Doyumu
Eşref, N. A. S. (2021) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi:10.18863/pgy.852636 · Cited by 18
One Compassion, Many Means: A Big Two Analysis of Compassionate Behavior
Quaglia, J. T. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01895-7 · Cited by 18
“Regarding compassion’s role in enacting moral behavior, compassion training can increase prosocial behavior in games designed to assess helping behavior (Leiberg et al. 2011; Weng et al. 2013).”
Background
Practical Implications of Empirically Studying Moral Decision-Making
Heinzelmann, N. C., Ugazio, G., & Tobler, P. N. (2012) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2012.00094 · Cited by 19
“For example, a Buddhist compassion-enhancing technique increases provision of help to another player in a virtual treasure hunt game (Leiberg et al., 2011).”
BackgroundInfluential
The association of temperament and maternal empathy with individual differences in infants’ neural responses to emotional body expressions
Rajhans, P., Missana, M., Krol, K. M., & Großmann, T. (2015) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579415000772 · Cited by 20
Empathy
Ferguson, E. (2016) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118468197.ch8 · Cited by 18
“We need to do more... I need to do more”: Augmenting Digital Media Consumption via Critical Reflection to Increase Compassion and Promote Prosocial Attitudes and Behaviors
Lee, K. J., Davila, A., Cheng, H., Goh, J., Nilsen, E. S., & Law, E. (2023) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3544548.3581355 · Cited by 18
“found that a short compassion training successfully increased helping behavior in a game designed for prosocial behavior assessment [72].”
Background
Hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex during working memory in essential hypertension
Grant, H., BHAMBHANI, Y. N., & Singhal, A. (2015) · Journal of the American Society of Hypertension · doi:10.1016/j.jash.2015.06.007 · Cited by 15
An online mindfulness intervention to enhance compassion in nursing practice: A feasibility and acceptability study with nursing students
Coster, S., Gould, R. L., Coulson, M., & Norman, I. J. (2020) · International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances · doi:10.1016/j.ijnsa.2020.100004 · Cited by 21
“…Strengthening motivation to be compassionate to others, through mindfulness and compassion enhancing meditative practices ( Gilbert et al., 2009 ; Leiberg, Klimecki, and Singer, 2011 ); 4) Supporting self-compassion leading to a more optimistic appraisal of one’s own resources, and a recognition…”
Cultivating Skillful Means of Care in Schools Through Compassion Practice and Individual and Joint Inquiry
Potvin, A. S., Penuel, W. R., Dimidjian, S., & Jinpa, T. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01867-x · Cited by 18
“…of training in compassion meditation on prosocial behavior (Ashar et al., 2016; Brito-Pons et al., 2018; Condon et al., 2013; Jazaieri et al., 2015; Leiberg et al., 2011; Raab, 2014; Sinclair et al., 2021; Weng et al., 2013), one of which shows that increases in helping behavior were related to…”
Background
Mindful Attention as a Skillful Means Toward Intergroup Prosociality
Berry, D. R., Rodriguez, K., Tasulis, G., & Behler, A. M. C. (2022) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01926-3 · Cited by 15
“For example, most work on this topic has focused on the value of compassion-based meditation practices for enhancing prosocial emotions, attitudes, and behaviors in constrained laboratory contexts (e.g., Kang et al., 2014; Leiberg et al., 2011; Stell & Farsides, 2016).”
Background
Empathy as Care: the Model of Palliative Medicine
Junco, N. R., & Morrison, D. R. (2019) · Society · doi:10.1007/s12115-019-00344-x · Cited by 16
Mindful Mindset, Interconnectedness and Dignity
Mahalingam, R. (2019) · Youth and Globalization · doi:10.1163/25895745-00102003 · Cited by 17
Loving-kindness language exposure leads to changes in sensitivity to imagined pain
Williams, P. B., Poljacik, G., Decety, J., & Nusbaum, H. C. (2017) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2017.1315648 · Cited by 15
“In meditation training studies directed at increasing compassion (e.g. Leiberg et al., 2011) participants are given instruction and practice (i.e. training) in compassion meditation which includes repeating specific phrases to oneself, sitting quietly, increasing mental focus, and developing…”
Background
The contribution of the individual to the group’s social capital: the structure of altruistic investment
Mararitsa, L. V., Kazantseva, T. V., Pochebut, L. G., & Sventsitskiy, A. L. (2018) · Social Psychology and Society · doi:10.17759/sps.2018090104 · Cited by 14
Mindfulness and Compassion as Foundations for Well-Being
Huppert, F. A. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-56889-8_39 · Cited by 17
Back to the future: A way to increase prosocial behavior
Curotto, P. C., Sander, D., D’Argembeau, A., & Klimecki, O. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272340 · Cited by 13
“To this end, we conducted a randomized controlled study to test the extent to which a brief future thinking induction as compared to an active control condition would increase prosocial behavior in the Zurich Prosocial Game [27], a task that measures prosocial behavior in a context that was not directly related to the…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citation
Radicalization Prevention by Means of Strengthening Social and Civic Competences
Sklad, M. J., Park, E., van Venrooij, I., Pickard, A., & Wignand, J. (2020) · Contemporary School Psychology · doi:10.1007/s40688-020-00330-9 · Cited by 17
The impact of mindfulness meditation on social and moral behavior: Does mindfulness enhance other-oriented motivation or decrease monetary reward salience?
Feruglio, S., Panasiti, M. S., Crescentini, C., Aglioti, S. M., & Ponsi, G. (2022) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2022.963422 · Cited by 15
“The results of Experiment 2 showed that shortterm CM increased helping behavior in the ZPG, compared with short-term memory training, and that helping in the noreciprocity trials was correlated to the reported practice hours in the CM group (Leiberg et al., 2011).”
BackgroundResult
Validasi Modul Bermain Peran “Aku Sayang Kawan” untuk Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Perilaku Prososial pada Anak Usia Dini
Alfiyah, S., & Martani, W. (2016) · Gadjah Mada Journal of Professional Psychology (GamaJPP) · doi:10.22146/gamajpp.9214 · Cited by 13
Exploring the impact of empathy, compassion, and Machiavellianism on consumer ethics in an emerging market
Arli, D. I., & Anandya, D. (2017) · Asian Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s13520-017-0076-8 · Cited by 13
Relating to Self and Other: Mindfulness Predicts Compassionate and Self-Image Relationship Goals
Stewart, K. L., Ahrens, A. H., & Gunthert, K. C. (2017) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-017-0760-8 · Cited by 16
A Comparison of the Effects of Ethics- Versus Wisdom-Based Mindfulness Practices on Prosocial Behaviour
Furnell, M., Gordon, W. V., & Elander, J. (2024) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-024-02488-2 · Cited by 14
“These range from helping behaviour (Leiberg et al., 2011) to altruistic redistribution of funds (Weng et al., 2013), to reparative behaviour (Hafenbrack et al., 2022), and to monetary donation (Chen & Jordan, 2020), as well as via psychometric scales (Baumsteiger & Siegel, 2019; Caprara et al.,…”
Compassion is key: How virtually embodying nature increases connectedness to nature
Spangenberger, P., Krüger, J. M., Geiger, S. M., Reuth, G. F., Baumann, L., & Nebel, S. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102521 · Cited by 13
From I to We: The Three C’s Conception of Gifted Education
Chowkase, A. A., & Watve, S. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-91618-3_4 · Cited by 12
Spreading positive change: Societal benefits of meditation
Engert, V., Klimecki, O., & Kanske, P. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1038051 · Cited by 22
Self-citation
Do contemplative practices make us more moral?
Berryman, K., Lazar, S. W., & Hohwy, J. (2023) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2023.07.005 · Cited by 17
Toward a Neuroscience of Wisdom
Williams, P. B., & Nusbaum, H. C. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800935-2.00021-x · Cited by 13
Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, Self-Esteem, Positive and Negative Affect, and Perceived Stress
Wang, I., & Ok-Kyeong, C. (2011) · Korean Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.17315/kjhp.2011.16.4.003 · Cited by 12
Perceptual Broadening Leads to More Prosociality
Mukherjee, S., Srinivasan, N., Kumar, N., & Manjaly, J. A. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01821 · Cited by 12
Appreciative Joy Meditation Enhances Acceptance of Unfair Offer in Ultimatum Game
Ng, G. T. T., Lai, D. C. K., Zeng, X., & Oei, T. P. S. (2019) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-019-01139-1 · Cited by 13
Exploring the relationship between mindfulness, compassion and unfamiliar face identification
Giannou, K., Taylor, J. R., & Lander, K. (2020) · Journal of Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1080/20445911.2020.1739693 · Cited by 12
“Compassion training increased positive emotions and diminished negative emotions (see also Davidson et al., 2003; Leiberg et al., 2011).”
Background
Peaceful Personality: Psychological Dynamics and Core Factors
Nelson, L. L. (2013) · Peace psychology book series · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-9366-2_4 · Cited by 12
“The group trained in loving-kindness meditation reported an increase in compassionate feelings and they became more helpful, unlike participants in the memory-training condition (Leiberg et al. 2011).”
Result
A neuroscience perspective on the plasticity of the social and relational brain
Singer, T. (2025) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.15319 · Cited by 18
“14,15 192–195 Importantly, as much as in non-trained people, empathy is typically the first response when exposed to the suffering of others before compassion arises; mental experts such as Matthieu Ricard can also engage in pure compassion directly without a preceding empathic response.”
Self-citation
Mental travel in the person domain
Hayman, M., & Arzy, S. (2021) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00695.2020 · Cited by 11
A Preliminary Assessment of Compassion Fatigue in Chimpanzee Caregivers
Jensvold, M. L. (2022) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani12243506 · Cited by 12
“Meditation promotes prosocial behavior and alters cortical activation in regions associated with social cognition and emotional regulation [92,93].”
Background
Compassion Education for Prosocial Behavior and Well-Being Among College Students
Tendhar, T., & de Mesquita, P. B. (2020) · Journal of Mental Health and Social Behaviour · doi:10.33790/jmhsb1100115 · Cited by 18
“Even short-term compassion training has been found to have significant positive impacts on prosocial behavior [58].”
Background
“What if It’s not Just an Item of Clothing?” – A Narrative Review and Synthesis of the White Coat in the Context of Aged Care
Crutzen, C., & Adam, S. (2022) · Psychologica Belgica · doi:10.5334/pb.1138 · Cited by 10
Compassion Fatigue in the Animal Care Community
Stoewen, D. L. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10330-8_3 · Cited by 12
Bio-prospecting of coral ( Porites lutea ) mucus associated bacteria, Palk Bay reefs, Southeast coast of India
Ahila, N. K., Prakash, S., Manikandan, B., Ravindran, J., Prabhu, N. M., & Kannapiran, E. (2017) · Microbial Pathogenesis · doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2017.09.056 · Cited by 11
A qualitative study of motivations for meditation in anthroposophic practitioners
Sparby, T., & Ott, U. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203184 · Cited by 11
MERHAMET DOYUMU ÖLÇEĞİNİN GELİŞTİRİLMESİ
Eşref, N. A. S., & Sak, R. (2021) · Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi · doi:10.17755/esosder.910301 · Cited by 11
Online Video-Mediated Compassion Training Program for Mental Health and Well-Being of University Students
Tendhar, T., Marcotte, M. A., de Mesquita, P. B., & Saikia, M. J. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12101033 · Cited by 12
“These positive changes have included reduced feelings of stress and anxiety [34], increased positive moods [27,35], and even neural changes associated with love and positive valuation [29].”
Background
Testing behaviour change with an artificial intelligence chatbot in a randomized controlled study
van Baal, S. T., Le, S. T. T., Fatehi, F., Verdejo‐García, A., & Hohwy, J. (2024) · Journal of Public Health Policy · doi:10.1057/s41271-024-00500-6 · Cited by 16
“The observation that compassion may be susceptible to short-term interventions accords well with the prosocial behaviour literature [36–38].”
Background
The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Empathic Concern on Mental Health and Behavioral Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Excessive Adaptation
Wang, R., Zhang, X., Zhu, L., Teng, H., Zhang, D., & Qiu, B. (2025) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs15040463 · Cited by 10
“Although both are associated with prosocial behaviors (Davis, 1983b; Leiberg et al., 2011), empathic concern elicits emotions similar to those of others through affective contagion, focusing on emotional understanding of others.”
Prosocial Propensity Bias in Experimental Research on Helping Behavior: The Proposition of a Discomforting Hypothesis
Kaiser, F. G., Otto, S., & Schuler, J. (2015) · Comprehensive Psychology · doi:10.2466/49.cp.4.11 · Cited by 10
Learning Compassion and Meditation: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Experience of Novice Meditators
Mascaro, J. S., Florian, M. P., Ash, M. J., Palmer, P. K., Sharma, A., Kaplan, D. M., Palitsky, R., Grant, G. H., & Raison, C. L. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.805718 · Cited by 18
YETİŞKİN MERHAMET ÖLÇEĞİNİN GELİŞTİRİLMESİ
Eşref, N. A. S., & Sak, R. (2022) · Fırat Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi · doi:10.18069/firatsbed.1037168 · Cited by 12
Compassion as a tool for allyship and anti-racism
Karnaze, M. M., Rajagopalan, R. M., Eyler, L. T., & Bloss, C. S. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1143384 · Cited by 13
“Experimental research shows that compassion and empathy for others can be modulated (Leiberg et al., 2011), as can acceptance of unpleasant emotions (Wolgast et al.”
Background
To help or punish in the face of unfairness: men and women prefer mutually-beneficial strategies over punishment in a sexual selection context
Ferguson, E., Quigley, E., Powell, G., Stewart, L., Harrison, F., & Tallentire, H. (2019) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.181441 · Cited by 10
“Furthermore, behaviours like compensation increase the probability of the recipient helping a stranger [56,106] and the actor being helped [107], both of which have the advantage of increasing the spread of cooperation via reciprocity [57].”
Background
Bacterial and macrofaunal communities in the sediments of the West Gironde Mud Patch, Bay of Biscay (France)
Massé, C., Meisterhans, G., Deflandre, B., Bachelet, G., Bourasseau, L., Bichon, S., Ciutat, A., Jude, F., Lavesque, N., Raymond, N., et al. (2016) · Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science · doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2016.01.011 · Cited by 10
A Neural Network for Moral Decision Making
FeldmanHall, O., & Mobbs, D. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397025-1.00180-9 · Cited by 11
Interconnectedness Is Associated with a Greater Sense of Civic Duty and Collective Action Participation through Transcendental Awareness and Compassion during COVID-19
Mak, W. W. S., Ng, S. M., Tsoi, E. W. S., & Yu, B. C. L. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19127261 · Cited by 11
Promoting prosocial behavior in an unequal world
Kirkland, K., Jetten, J., Wilks, M., & Kirby, J. N. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1021093 · Cited by 12
“As exposure to compassion meditations appear to enhance compassion toward others (Leiberg et al., 2011; Trautwein et al., 2020), we hypothesised that all participants would behave more compassionately by working collaboratively after being exposed to a compassion meditation compared to a focussed imagery meditation.”
Background
Self-Compassion, Performance, and Burnout: Surfacing an Unknown Work Construct
George, L., Wallace, J. C., Snider, J. B., & Suh, H. (2023) · Group & Organization Management · doi:10.1177/10596011231161123 · Cited by 13
“…such as in a healthcare setting, employees may be at risks of various dysfunctional stress responses including compassion fatigue, which can lead employees to experience physical, cognitive, and emotional exhaustion (Germer & Neff, 2013; Hashem & Zeinoun, 2020; Leiberg, Klimecki, & Singer, 2011).”
Activism online: Exploring how crises are communicated visually in activism campaigns
Fagerholm, A., Göransson, K., Thompson, L. M., & Hedvall, P. (2023) · Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management · doi:10.1111/1468-5973.12472 · Cited by 9
Good Moral Judgment and Decision‐Making Without Deliberation
Ferrin, A. (2017) · The Southern Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.1111/sjp.12210 · Cited by 10
Out of sight, out of mind? Exploring the long-term effects of Relational Mindfulness Training (RMT)
Vich, M., Lukeš, M., & Burian, J. (2020) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.04.001 · Cited by 10
The Influence of Compassion Meditation on the Psychotherapist’s Empathy and Clinical Practice: A Phenomenological Analysis
Bibeau, M., Dionne, F., Riera, A., & Leblanc, J. (2020) · Journal of Humanistic Psychology · doi:10.1177/0022167820953258 · Cited by 12
“It appears that just a few minutes of loving-kindness meditation can increase positive attitudes toward others (Hutcherson et al., 2008) and that short-term compassion training can lead to increases in prosocial behaviors (Leiberg et al., 2011).”
Can compassion help cure health-related disorders?
Shonin, E., Gordon, W. V., García‐Campayo, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017) · British Journal of General Practice · doi:10.3399/bjgp17x690329 · Cited by 10
Views and experiences of compassion in Sri Lankan students: An exploratory qualitative study
Kariyawasam, L., Ononaiye, M. S. P., Irons, C., Stopa, L. L., & Kirby, S. E. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260475 · Cited by 10
“From an evolutionary perspective, compassion is not always seen as unconditional due to its propensity towards cost-benefit outcomes [47].”
Getting closer: compassion training increases feelings of closeness toward a disliked person
Curotto, P. C., Halperin, E., Sander, D., & Klimecki, O. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45363-1 · Cited by 9
“A possible explanation for the difference between compassion and reappraisal trainings is the potential of compassion training to increase positive attitudes in response to distressful scenes 28,57 .”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Compassion as the Highest Ethic
Kirby, J. N., Steindl, S. R., & Doty, J. R. (2017) · Mindfulness in behavioral health · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-64924-5_10 · Cited by 9
Exploring the potential contributions of mindfulness and compassion-based practices for enhancing the teaching of undergraduate ethics courses in philosophy
Paulson, J., & Kretz, L. (2018) · The Social Science Journal · doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2017.12.003 · Cited by 9
“To explore the impact of compassion training on prosocial behavior, Leiberg et al. (2011) developed the Zurich Prosocial Game, which allowed for repeated, ecologically valid assessments of prosocial behavior following compassion training.”
Background
Implicit and Explicit Ethics in Mindfulness-Based Programs in a Broader Context
Cheung, K. (2018) · Mindfulness in behavioral health · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-76538-9_16 · Cited by 8
Ready to help, no matter what you did: Responsibility attribution does not influence compassion in expert Buddhist practitioners.
Fucci, E., Abdoun, O., Baquedano, C., & Antoine Lutz, A. (2024) · Journal of Experimental Psychology General · doi:10.1037/xge0001542 · Cited by 10
Heart rate, perceived stress and prosocial behaviour: real-time psychophysiological correlates of prosocial behaviour
Yu, Z., & Hao, J. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03881-7 · Cited by 7
“Altruistic prosocial behaviour should be measured comprehensively in future studies by using other computerized games, such as the Zurich prosocial game (Leiberg et al., 2011).”
Method
Exploring the Challenges of Empathy in a Therapeutic Context: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Watson, T., Waters, R., Watts, L., & Hodgson, D. (2025) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/10497323251331460 · Cited by 12
“…empathy has gained widespread recognition for its potential to improve therapeutic outcomes (Cochran & Cochran, 2015), recent evidence suggests that empathy in therapeutic contexts may negatively impact workers ’ well-being (Grynberg & Konrath, 2020; Klimecki & Singer, 2012; Leiberg et al., 2011).”
The Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation Guided by Short Video Apps on Policemen’s Mindfulness, Public Service Motivation, Conflict Resolution Skills, and Communication Skills
Liu, C., Lin, L.-J., Zhang, K., & Chiou, W. (2025) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs15070909 · Cited by 15
“Furthermore, Leiberg et al. (2011) demonstrated that LKM practitioners were better able to navigate interpersonal conflicts due to an increased capacity for empathy and non-reactivity.”
A revised prosocial behavior game: Testing associations with psychopathic traits and the effects of moral elevation using a randomized clinical trial
Sakai, J. T., Chintaluru, Y., Raymond, K. M., McWilliams, S. K., Carter, R. M., Winters, D. E., & Mikulich‐Gilbertson, S. K. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283279 · Cited by 7
Effects of loving-kindness meditation on prosocial behavior: empirical and meta-analytic evidence
Valor, C., Zorita, C. M. D. I., Bosch, I. C., & de Diego, A. M. (2024) · Journal of Social Marketing · doi:10.1108/jsocm-05-2023-0110 · Cited by 12
Psychometric evaluation of the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale in the Czech environment (SCBCS)
Novák, L., Maliňáková, K., Mikoška, P., Fürstová, J., Cann, R., & Tavel, P. (2021) · Mental Health Religion & Culture · doi:10.1080/13674676.2020.1850666 · Cited by 9
“This emotional state is characterised by feelings of warmth, concern and interest in others as well as motivation or the need to help others with the aim of increasing the other person’s well-being (Leiberg et al., 2011; Preckel et al., 2018).”
Compassion and moral inclusion as cornerstones for conservation education and coexistence
Yanco, E. G., Batavia, C., & Ramp, D. (2021) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109253 · Cited by 10
Short-term experiential philanthropy: The case of Giving Games
Taggart, G. (2022) · Journal of Public Affairs Education · doi:10.1080/15236803.2022.2103772 · Cited by 7
“Lab experiments in which participants received compassion trainings lasting 15–30 minutes saw those participants increase in helping behavior in pro-social games (Leiberg et al., 2011).”
Background
Time-resolved optical fluorescence spectroscopy of heterogeneous turbid media with special emphasis on brain tissue structures including diseased regions: A sensitivity analysis
Vaudelle, F., & L’Huillier, J.-P. (2013) · Optics Communications · doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2013.04.016 · Cited by 7
Creating Socially Fit Heroes and Reducing the Incidence of Bullying in Elementary Physical Education
Wenos, J. Z., Trick, T., & Williams, J. (2014) · Journal of Physical Education Recreation & Dance · doi:10.1080/07303084.2014.937020 · Cited by 7
Compassion
Klimecki, O., & Singer, T. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397025-1.00178-0 · Cited by 8
Self-citation
Positive Psychology and Buddhism
Segall, S. Z., & Kristeller, J. L. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10274-5_14 · Cited by 12
Compassion at Work
Anstiss, T. (2016) · doi:10.1002/9781118977620.ch13 · Cited by 9
The Breakdown of Civic Virtues and the Problem of Hate Speech: Is There Wisdom in Freedom of Speech?
Nusbaum, H. C. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-20287-3_5 · Cited by 7
Does loving‐kindness meditation elicit empathic emotions? The moderating role of self‐discrepancy and self‐esteem on guilt
Bosch, I. C., Zorita, C. M. D. I., Valor, C., & de Diego, A. M. (2022) · Applied Psychology Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1111/aphw.12416 · Cited by 12
Brief Compassion Training Reduces Intergroup Psychological Barriers: An Experimental Study
Chow, J. C. K., Mak, W. W. S., & Auyeung, L. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02230-4 · Cited by 6
“…prosocial emotions (e.g., warmth, empathy, sympathy), attitudes (e.g., reduce prejudice, increase acceptance), and behaviors (e.g., helpfulness, volunteerism) (Batson et al., 1987; Fehr, 2013; Fehr et al., 2009; Leiberg et al., 2011; Omoto et al., 2009; Sinclair et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2019).”
Relationships and the Neurobiology of Resilience
Atkinson, B. J. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9909-6_6 · Cited by 7
Neuroscience du bonheur
Davidson, R. J., & Schuyler, B. S. (2017) · Revue québécoise de psychologie · doi:10.7202/1040069ar · Cited by 8
Gender-based disparities in medicine: a theoretical framework for understanding opposition to equity and equality
Ruzycki, S. M., Brown, A. D., Bharwani, A. M., & Freeman, G. (2021) · BMJ Leader · doi:10.1136/leader-2020-000231 · Cited by 6
Manajemen Krisis Dimasa Pandemi
Harlianty, R. A., Nurzanah, E., Sunarmi, S., Nurhayati, N., & Mukhlis, H. (2021) · Indonesia Berdaya · doi:10.47679/ib.202174 · Cited by 6
Compassion, Discrimination, and Prosocial Behaviors: Young Diasporic Chinese During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Chen, Y., Wang, Z., Zhang, Q., Dong, W., Xu, J., Wu, S. J., Zhang, X., & Chen, C. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.814869 · Cited by 6
An interdisciplinary synthesis of research on understanding and promoting well‐doing
Lieder, F., Prentice, M. S., & Corwin‐Renner, E. R. (2022) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.12704 · Cited by 8
Designing a Serious Game to Raise Awareness of Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescents in the UK: The Use of ‘Good Games’ Principles for Effective Behavioural Change
Pearson, J., Wu, S., Royston, H., Smailes, H., Robinson, N., Cowell, A., & Jones, A. (2020) · Lecture notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-53294-9_33 · Cited by 6
How does mindfulness training improve moral cognition: A theoretical and experimental framework for the study of embodied ethicsPreprint
Sevinc, G., & Lazar, S. W. (2018) · MindRxiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31231/osf.io/cd7qv · Cited by 8
“Improvements in prosociality have also been documented following other contemplative tradition based interventions such as compassion training[46,47].”
Background
Merhamet Konusunda Yapılmış Araştırmaların İncelenmesi
Eşref, N. A. S. (2022) · Akademik Platform Eğitim ve Değişim Dergisi · doi:10.55150/apjec.824753 · Cited by 6
Boosting prosocial career aspirations: Loving‐kindness meditation relates to higher communal career goals in youth
Tellhed, U., Sollvén, A., Tamas, A., & Hägerklint, E. (2022) · Scandinavian Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/sjop.12823 · Cited by 6
“…(or the related compassion meditation) has the power to increase other prosocial psychological factors (Ashar et al., 2016; Condon et al., 2013; Galante et al., 2014; Hutcherson et al., 2008; Leiberg et al., 2011; Luberto et al., 2018; Lutz et al., 2008; Stell & Farsides, 2016; Weng et al., 2013).”
BackgroundResult
Correlates of Compassion for Suffering Social Groups
Floyd, K., Ray, C. D., James, R., & Anderson, A. J. (2022) · Southern Communication Journal · doi:10.1080/1041794x.2022.2086612 · Cited by 5
“Because compassion motivates prosocial behavior (Leiberg et al., 2011), we hypothesize the following association between compassion and loneliness:”
Background
Social decision-making in highly psychopathic offenders – A systematic literature review
Hauser, N., Hollerbach, P., & Habermeyer, E. (2022) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2022.101797 · Cited by 5
Considerations of Mutual Exchange in Prosocial Decision-Making
Allidina, S., Arbuckle, N. L., & Cunningham, W. A. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01216 · Cited by 5
Development and Effects of a Loving-Kindness and Compassion Meditation Program to Improve Maternal-Fetal Attachment
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“It can be arguably inferred that LKCM is effective for MFA based on the findings that LKCM promotes social bonding and prosocial emotions, attitudes, and behaviors (Hutcherson et al., 2008; Leiberg et al., 2011; Wang IS et al., 2011; Gim WS, 2014; Kang et al., 2014).”
BackgroundResult
The Political Consequences of Be(com)ing Mindful. How Mindfulness Might Affect Political Attitudes
Ramstetter, L. (2021) · Frontiers in Political Science · doi:10.3389/fpos.2021.673054 · Cited by 4
Situational assessment of empathy and compassion: Predicting prosociality using a video-based task
Górska, G., Berkovich‐Ohana, A., Klimecki, O., & Trautwein, F. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0289465 · Cited by 6
Self-citation

Authors: Leiberg, S., Klimecki, O., & Singer, T.
Affiliations: University of Zurich (CH)
Corresponding author: Leiberg, Susanne
ORCID: Leiberg, Susanne
Klimecki, Olga
Singer, Tania
Venue: PLoS ONE
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published: 2011-03-09
Volume: 6
Issue: 3
Pages: e17798
ISSN: 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017798
PMC: PMC3052380
OpenAlex: W1973616877
Cited by: 442
References: 69
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 15
FWCI: 19.63
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (unspecified)
Locations: PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion, other-oa)
MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders: National Science Foundation (FP7/2007-2013)
Mind and Life Institute
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FP7/2007-2013)
Universität Zürich
FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (205557)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords: compassion training, prosocial behavior, helping behavior, reciprocity, memory training, individual differences, practice duration, helping strangers
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Empathy, Female, Games, Experimental, Helping Behavior, Humans, Memory, Social Behavior, Time Factors, Young Adult

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Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game

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