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About the Center for Empathy and Compassion

Brain graphic

Established in 2012, the Center for Science and Education of Empathy and Compassion (SEEC) is a collaboration of scientists and lay members of the community who are committed to understanding the brain's role in and developing ways to increase empathy and compassion.

Read about our directors.

Vision

A scientific and lay community that understands the neural basis for empathy and compassion and uses newly developed insights and tools to create methods to enhance the ability of humans to practice these mental states.

Mission

To establish at UCSD and affiliated institutions, a powerful multidisciplinary collaborative whose goal is to decipher the neural basis for empathy and compassion and whose work leads to methods that can be applied by individuals to engage in and benefit from these mental states.

Aims

  • Understand the brain mechanisms underlying empathy and compassion
  • Promote a neuroscience-based understanding of empathy and compassion
  • Develop new approaches to increase empathy and compassion

Center for Empathy and Compassion