Table 2.
Defining compassion.
| Theme | Representative quote |
|---|---|
| Compassion is more than empathy | “So, I think [compassion is] similar to empathy, but I think it implies more of an active role, maybe. That it entails perceiving the suffering of others, but not just perceiving, but being moved by it, being inspired by it, being pushed to do something about it.” (MS) |
| “I think when I hear the term compassion, it has a connotation of action for me. Like I am, in addition to putting myself in someone else’s shoes, there’s some action that I am taking to alleviate their suffering or whatever they are experiencing. And so that to me, is one of the key differences that sets compassion apart [from empathy] is because there’s an action element.” (SGA) | |
| Compassion is ineffable and somatic | “I think compassion maybe is I feel for you. Like basically you are going through something does inspire something inside of me. And I may not understand completely, but I feel for you, is compassion.” (MS) |
| “I think there’s a little bit more to it in terms of the sort of inexpressible, indescribable, emotional state that I feel when I see somebody who’s hurting, that is a little bit bigger” (SGA) | |
| “I feel like compassion is something that comes really deep from within. I can be very empathetic to a patient, but to really feel what they are going through, I do not know if I could really describe it. It’s, you are almost going through the journey with them and you feel it almost on a physical level.” (MCL) | |
| Compassion can be cultivated | “I think like compassion can be learned with knowledge and like, I feel like people’s beliefs about things can always change over time. And the more you learn, the more you can, you can grow your compassion.” (MS) |
| “I also feel like compassion is something that I think sort of naturally grows with age. I mean, in healthy aging and healthy social development.” (MS) | |
| “I also think you can improve upon compassion and teach people ways to show it and maintain it under stress.” (SGA) | |
| “I also think it has something to do just with life experience and not only just in medicine, but just living. As, you know, just getting more appreciation for the human condition. And so, I think there’s definitely a capacity to increase one’s compassion.” (SGA) |
SGA = small group advisor, MS = medical student, MCL = medical curriculum leader.