What is compassion, how does it affect the quality of our lives and how can we develop compassion for ourselves and others? Humans are capable of extreme cruelty but also considerable compassion. List of contributors vii Acknowledgements xi 1 Introduction and outline 1(6) PAUL GILBERT PART I Conceptualisations and research 7(186) 2 Compassion and cruelty: A biopsychosocial approach 9(66) PAUL GILBERT 3 A conceptual framework for integrating research related to the physiology of compassion and the wisdom of Buddhist teachings 75(46) SHEILA WANG 4 An attachment-theoretical approach to compassion and altruism 121(27) OMRI GILLATH, PHILLIP R. SHAVER AND MARIO MIKULINCER 5 The psychology of compassion and prosocial behaviour 148(20) HANS-WERNER BIERHOFF 6 Compassion and forgiveness: Implications for psychotherapy 168(27) EVERETT L. WORTHINGTON, Jr, LYNN E. O'CONNOR, JACK W. BERRY, CONNIE SHARP, REBECCA MURRAY AND EUNICE YI PART II Compassion and use in psychotherapy 193(194) 7 A social-cognitive model of validation 195(23) ROBERT L. LEAHY 8 The Buddhist use of compassionate imagery in mind healing 218(21) RINGU TULKU RINPOCHE AND KENNETH MULLEN 9 Mindfulness, compassion for self, and compassion for others: Implications for understanding the psychopathology and treatment of depression 239(24) NICHOLAS B. ALLEN AND WENDY E.J. KNIGHT 10 Focused therapies and compassionate mind training for shame and self-attacking 263(63) PAUL GILBERT AND CHRIS IRONS 11 The perfect nurturer: A model to develop a compassionate mind within the context of cognitive therapy 326(26) DEBORAH A. LEE 12 Compassionate imagery in the treatment of early memories in Axis I anxiety disorders 352(17) ANN HACKMANN 13 The expression of compassion in group cognitive therapy 369(18) TONY BATES Index 387