Written Responses Should Be At Least 1 Full Page With Care

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Participate in the Day of Compassion To complete this assignment, choose a day that will be your "Day of Compassion" and try your absolute best to live each minute of that day as compassionately as possible. In other words, for a full 24-hour period you should do your best to reduce suffering of others, help those in need, be considerate and respectful, and avoid causing harm to any living being. When carrying out this assignment, leave no behavior unexamined -- from watching TV to eating lunch to decisions about giving time or money to others.

That is, don't limit yourself to simply holding the door open for a stranger or petting a lonely dog; think about all the unnecessary suffering in the world, and strive for the greatest impact and deepest level of compassion without being phony or insincere. It is up to you to define what compassion is and to decide how best to realize it. If you are already quite compassionate, try being compassionate toward groups you don't often focus on, and even if your actions don't differ much from how you normally behave, carefully observe and analyze what transpires during the day. If outside events make it difficult for you to participate on the designated day, or if you feel dissatisfied with your performance of the assignment, feel free to repeat the exercise on a later day.

Note: To minimize any bias in social reactions, it is best if you do not tell others about the class assignment until after the Day of Compassion is over. Part II: Write About Your Experience "The problem is whether we are determined to go in the direction of compassion or not. If we are, then can we reduce the suffering to a minimum? If I lose my direction, I have to look for the North Star, and I go to the north. That does not mean I expect to arrive at the North Star. I just want to go in that direction." ~Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace (1987) Before class begins on the due date, submit a social psychological analysis of what the day was like. Here are a few sample questions you might address: • How did you define compassion, and who were the recipients of your efforts?• If your behavior was different than normal, which person did you like more: the "Day of Compassion you" or the "normal you"? If you preferred the "Day of Compassion you," what are the psychological factors that prevent this "you" from coming out?• What are the psychological costs and benefits of behaving compassionately? In your view, do the benefits outweigh the costs?• How did others respond to your compassion? Do you think they noticed a difference in your behavior? What attributions did people make for your behavior, and why?• If you wanted to encourage others to behave as you did during the Day of Compassion, what psychological techniques would you use? How can social psychology be used to foster compassion?• If you were to predict your behavior one month from now, do you think it will be changed in any way as a result of participating in the Day of Compassion? If so, how? If not, why not?

Paper For Above instruction

The "Day of Compassion" exercise offers a profound opportunity for introspection and social psychological analysis of human behavior and altruism. Over the 24-hour period, I defined compassion as a deliberate effort to reduce suffering and promote well-being among others, encompassing actions from small courtesies to substantial acts of aid. My primary recipients included family members, colleagues, strangers, and animals. My intention was to extend kindness universal to all beings, recognizing the interconnectedness emphasized in social psychology.

Throughout the day, I adopted behaviors that differed from my typical routines. I consciously aimed to act with more patience, empathy, and consideration. I found that I enjoyed the "Day of Compassion" version of myself more than my usual self. Psychologically, this version resonated with authentic values—though, admittedly, some actions felt challenging or forced at times, revealing internal barriers rooted in habitual self-interest and time pressures. The psychological costs included emotional fatigue, as sustaining compassionate behavior requires effort, especially in stressful or uncooperative situations. Conversely, the benefits—such as feelings of fulfillment, social connection, and positive feedback—outweighed the costs, reinforcing the intrinsic rewards of compassion.

Others responded positively to my compassionate efforts. Strangers smiled more readily, and colleagues expressed gratitude for small acts of kindness. Some appeared surprised, attributing my behavior to a purposeful disposition change, perhaps viewing me as more empathetic or altruistic than usual. These attributions aligned with social psychology theories, such as the halo effect, where positive actions enhance perceptions of character. In some instances, I noticed that colleagues and friends seemed to mirror my behavior subtly, which suggests the potential for social contagion of compassion.

To encourage others, I would utilize psychological techniques grounded in social influence—modeling compassionate behavior publicly, providing verbal praise, and framing kindness as socially admirable and normative. Social psychology underscores that norms and perceptions of social approval strongly influence behavior. By promoting stories of compassionate acts and highlighting their positive consequences, we can foster a culture where empathy is valued and practiced.

Looking ahead, I believe participating in the Day of Compassion will have a lasting effect. The experience heightened my awareness of unconscious biases and habitual self-interest that often curb compassionate responses. I predict that this awareness will motivate me to incorporate more intentional acts of kindness into my daily life, even after some time has passed. Social psychological principles—such as self-perception and cognitive dissonance—suggest that consistent compassionate behavior can alter attitudes, leading to more intrinsic motivation to act kindly. Overall, this exercise demonstrated that deliberate effort and social modeling are powerful tools to cultivate a more compassionate society.

References

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• Thich Nhat Hanh. (1987). Being Peace. Parallax Press.
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