Kindness and compassion in the optics of a new psychological normal

Abstract

The introduction substantiates the relevance of studying the modes of prosocial behavior in the conditions of new psychological normal, conditioned by informatization and digitalization of society, breaking of habitual behavioral algorithms during the pandemic, adjustment of rules and norms of interaction. Theoretical analysis and earlier studies allow us to differentiate compassion and kindness in terms of motives, goals and results of prosocial behavior: if compassion is associated with empathic connection, sympathy, resonant co-tuning with the Other, providing him with his own resources, kindness is interpreted as voluntary acceptance of responsibility for the present and future of the Other through the mobilization of his resources. Empirical analysis. The objective of this research is to study compassion and kindness as different modes of prosocial behavior from the point of view of their typicality and significance in the behavioral repertoire of modern students, the possibility of adequate recognition depending on the location of the Other on the scale “Acquaintance – Stranger”. Participants: psychology students (N = 76; M = 24.4; SD = 9.5). Methods: survey and psychological testing with the Kindness and Compassion Scenario Scale (Gilbert P. et al.). Conclusion. It has been revealed that the significance and typicality of the implementation of behavioral scenarios constructed with regard to the norms of prosocial behavior indicates their insufficient priority and demand. It is found that when the mode of kindness is more accurately recognized, compassion is equally well identified in relation to both familiar and unfamiliar people, whereas kindness is better identified in relation to familiar people and corresponds with altruistic investment.

Keywords

• new normal
• prosocial behavior
• recognition
• kindness
• compassion
• acquaintance – stranger