1. The Day Of Compassion Assignment
How did you define compassion, and who were the recipients of your efforts?
In my experience I believe that Compassion is a feeling inside me which primarily functions tofacilitate
cooperation and protection of the weak and those who suffer. I believe that Compassionis a feeling
that drives me to help people or someone who is in need of some important assistance, hungry,
troubled,melancholic,in destress and so on.
Fortunately I was raised in a greatfamily, my fatheris my idol. He is smart, honest and compassionate
and I was blessed to be his son and same goes for my mother too. So naturally I had compassion within
me from an early age. My family taught me how to be kind to people and how to properly behave. Most
of all, they taught me that, “A good and kind behavior can ease off any kind of trouble” and “Good
Behavior is the sign of humanity”. They just showed me the path to become an apprentice in the line of
social psychology.
After working all night at the office, on the next day which was the 6th of September, it was raining
heavily at around 9 AMin the morning while Iwas on myway home. The bus arrived quickly and I had to
run for it. After getting in the bus I took the front seat, by the time we reached to the next stop the rain
was almost over, and a homeless boy aroundfive years old steppedin the bus, he was entirely soaked
from the rain, trembling in cold and had no shirt on, he was beggingfor some money from the people
inside, noin the bus cared exceptfor some few who gave the boy a little amount of money. I justfelt so
sad inside that it was unbearable, fortunately I had my t-shirt under the shirt and without no further
delay I took off my t-shirt and put it on the boy’s body and gave him some extra money. He came down
with tears of joy and gave me a hug which felt better than a thousand hugs. Me and the kidwas
stepping down on the next stop together when the bus guy gave the kid some money, seeing his
compassion I gave him myfair with anextra tip.
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?
Certainly my behavior was different on the day of my compassion because I am already a compassionate
person and this day gave me the opportunity to be more of it. So most assuredly Iliked the “Day of
Compassionate Me” better.
2. As I’ve already mentioned earlier that I try my best to be compassionate on a daily basis, but the reason
I am unable to carry out the "Day of Compassionate me" has many different reasons. Some of the
psychological factors that prevent this "me" from coming out could be :
1. Too much stress at the office that eventually makes me depressed and to care less.
2. Someday I become self-centric in order to mend my scattered life. This ‘ME’ time is a kind of self-
realization, which gives me the courage to start a new day after hard stressful day. But,it really hampers
my social life, as for it, I am unable to patch up with my buddies.
3. Sometimes I have a lot things running deep in my mind (Example : Future plan,work pressure and
promotional delay, money problem, failed love life, a new idea of moving on forward, music etc.) hence
I don’t notice what other people are doing.
4. Economic instability is another block in the path of being compassionate.
5. The distance from my family. This perspective has been a crucial part and without the feeling of love, I
am just unable to spread the compassion to my known people.
What are the psychological costs and benefits of behaving compassionately? In your view, do
the benefits outweigh the costs?
I believe the psychological cost for compassion is to have distinct appraisal processes attuned to
undeserved suffering, distinct signaling behavior related to caregiving patterns of touch, posture, and
vocalization, and a phenomenological experience and physiological response that orients the individual
to social approach. This response profile of compassion differs from those of distress, sadness, and love,
suggesting that compassion isindeed a distinct emotion. Also compassion at a minor scale could have a
negative impact at times. Forexample, someone can take advantage of me being too compassion &
harm us in many ways.
In my opinion,the benefits certainly outweighs the costs as compassion shapes moral judgment and
action, thoughit varies across different cultures,but yet if everyone waswilling to be more
compassionate towards humanity, I believe the world could be a better place.
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?
I consider compassion as a source of principled moral judgment and a mental energy to carry on.
Throughout my ‘Day of compassionate me”, I tried to be at my very best behavior with everyone, from
my colleagues to friends andevery unknown individual I confronted. I was polite, kind, thankful, truthful
3. and giving. And the response was amazing, people’s behavior towards me seemed different than usual.
Every time I gave some money to the poor, they stood their praying for my well being. An old man at his
70s came to me in front of the hotel while I was about to have breakfast, he said he haven’t had a
decent meal in 2 days. I took himinto the restaurant with me,we sat together and had our breakfast.
While we were leaving, the old man said to me “I wish and hope thatevery family has a son like you,
God bless you’”. I was going to my office and Ileft my seat for an old lady; she thanked and blessed me.
In our area, there is a place where some of my friends teach street children at their spare time. Ijoined
them and went through the entire evening. The response Ifound from my friends on that day only
reminded me one word, ‘Respect’. The feeling I had at that moment is just UN-expressible andfelt like
being this compassionate every day.
Few of my friends noticed my change in behavior and curiously asked me about it, I simply told them
that “Giving is a far better feeling than receiving and you should all try to be more compassionate
towards the under-privileged people. Do that and see how itfeels”.
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 a more
compassionate society?
There are so many psychological techniques that can constrain someone to become compassionate, just
like me. but I chose Pygmalioneffect andwith it I also used the secret science of persuasion in order to
show people as an example. We know that the Pygmalion effect dealswith expectation and
performances, as expectation rises, performances also rises. In my practical life I have applied few of
these principles.And I got various resultsin return. For getting positive perceptionfrom my
surroundings, I triedfew tactics to achieve positive perception. A Smiling Face,A Friendly behavior, An
Understanding attitude, Helping them when needed, sharing my personal life with them helped me a
lot.
I also used the secret science of persuasion in order to show people that they can become
compassionate like me. Shortcuts that I used:
Reciprocity : If I want something from others, I have to start giving. So, by being compassionate, I gave
something to them andinspired them to do the same.
Scarcity: in our country there is a common thought among people that "one in million". thislimited
number concept is driving the people to become compassionate like me.
Consistency: Voluntary active + public commitment gives the Consistency to made them to be
compassionate like me.
4. Liking: Similar thoughts for how to be a good person into our social life, Complimentsfor following the
information and Cooperating with us was really great. It surely created “LIKING” Impression.
Consensus: “People Will look to the action of others to determine their own”. by being helpful and
compassionate to others, and by also showing them a few good examples, i showed them that other
people can alsolive a compassionate life. more or less they are happy and leading a goodlife. And this
exampleswere enough to directed them to live a compassionate life.
If you were to predict your behavior one month from now, do you think it will be changed as
a result of participating in the Day of Compassion? If so, how? If not, why not?
i believe after one month my behavior will change and i'll be more compassionate. thoughi feel myself
as compassionate and just found thatit’s one of the easiest way tolive a happier life and also want to
see a total Compassionate world, I can surely predict that I’ll be more compassionate.
Thank you
Md. Ashfak Sayed
