Compassion focused therapy is an evolutionary model of psychotherapy. We have these evolved brains and bodies, and both can be very tricky and cause us a lot of suffering: emotionally, physically, socially and so on.

But CFT proposes that compassion also evolved as an innate aspect to human nature. Compassion is there, within us, and we can learn about it and practice it and go a long way towards embodying it in our lives. And, of course, a compassionate motivation is aimed at helping us suffer less.

But how can we be so sure compassion evolved as part of the species and isn’t, in fact, a more recent addition, something related to being more civilised, perhaps?

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

BOOKS AND OTHER LINKS

The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Origin-Species-Charles-Darwin/dp/0451529065/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2AWPGPBG3D72U&keywords=origin+of+species&qid=1642388219&s=books&sprefix=origin+of+specie%2Cstripbooks%2C237&sr=1-8

Cosmos by Carl Sagan:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cosmos-Cosmic-Evolution-Science-Civilisation/dp/0349107033/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22F6WRKW7A8J2&keywords=cosmos+carl+sagan+book&qid=1642388113&s=books&sprefix=carl+sagan+cosmos%2Cstripbooks%2C215&sr=1-1

How Compassion Made Us Human by Penny Spikins:

https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Compassion-Made-Human-Archaeology/dp/1781593108/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZZ7JRXYPKWX4&keywords=How+Compassion+Made+us+Human&qid=1642382707&sprefix=how+compassion+made+us+human%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-1

Compassion: Concepts, Research and Application edited by Paul Gilbert:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Compassion-Concepts-Applications-Paul-Gilbert/dp/1138957194/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JAA0WQLQLF4Q&keywords=compassion+concepts+research+practical&qid=1642382746&sprefix=compassion+concepts+research+practical%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-1

Homo Ergaster summarised by The Australian Musem

https://australian.museum/learn/science/human-evolution/homo-ergaster/

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