ABSTRACT
Evolution has created an integrated set of physiological systems that include the amygdala, frontal cortex, adaptations to autonomic nervous system and a range of specific hormones like oxytocin that provide the infrastructures for caring, altruism and compassion. This chapter proposes that empathy is composed of basic attentional, perceptual and motor simulation processes, simulation of another's affective body state, and slower and higher-level perspective-taking. These components are modulated by emotion regulation and self/other discrimination, and when infused with a motivational component, may become a compassionate response. The observational research indicates that providing social support decreases mortality, and that compassion mediates the consistent relationship between religiosity and health outcomes. Studies in psychoneuroimmunology have made great strides with the discovery that chronic social isolation biases an individual's immune system toward the fast-acting innate immune response, characterized by deleterious pro-inflammatory signaling. At the same time, isolation down-regulates the slower acting acquired immune system.
