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. 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.
Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game
2011
No items found.
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. 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.
Related resources
Thinking Space
Climate and ecological emotions
Climate justice & decolonising
Hosting and facilitating a Climate café listening circle (CCLC) training
Do you want to help build resilience in your community? Climate Cafe LIstening Circle (CCLC) Training builds the confidence, skills, and peer community to facilitate your own circles. Delivered as a structured programme over three sessions in closed cohorts, with ongoing supervision and support afterwards.
April 23, 2026
Peer supervision
Hosting and facilitating a Climate café listening circle (CCLC) training
Do you want to help build resilience in your community? Climate Cafe LIstening Circle (CCLC) Training builds the confidence, skills, and peer community to facilitate your own circles. Delivered as a structured programme over three sessions in closed cohorts, with ongoing supervision and support afterwards.
May 11, 2026
Working group
Hosting and facilitating a Climate café listening circle (CCLC) training
Do you want to help build resilience in your community? Climate Cafe LIstening Circle (CCLC) Training builds the confidence, skills, and peer community to facilitate your own circles. Delivered as a structured programme over three sessions in closed cohorts, with ongoing supervision and support afterwards.
May 21, 2026
Explore more resources
Browse the full Research and Resources library, more articles, papers, podcasts, and reading lists.
Browse the library
Join the community
CPA is built collaboratively, by members for members. If this work resonates, come and join us.
Find out about membership
.jpg)
