Compassionate Love Research

Since 2001, the Fetzer Institute has supported more than thirty scientific studies on compassionate love and altruistic love. Nine new studies explore compassionate love within a broad range of relationships, including marital, parent-child, families, inter-group, and relations between religious and cultural groups.

LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

The scientific study of love and forgiveness has yielded significant advances in knowledge about the human capacity to love and forgive. Projects we have supported range from basic research on the neurobiology of love as well as applied research on forgiveness and compassionate love in relationships. Our goal is to further develop the scientific fields of love and forgiveness research through targeted studies, publication and research networking and support.

Compassionate Love Research

Compassionate Love in a Relational Context

The Fetzer Initiative on the Neuroscience of Compassion,
Love and Forgiveness

Development of Young Children's Compassionate Behavior

Fetzer Forgiveness Research Working Group

Forgiveness and Relational Spirituality

SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH

For decades, the Fetzer Institute has focused on mind-body and spirituality and health. We currently support scientific inquiry to understand the effects of love and forgiveness on human health and relationships, to address the root causes of fear and violence, and apply this knowledge in health care, community and other settings.

Global Violence Prevention

Relational Processes in Mental Health

CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE & TRANSFORMATION RESEARCH

Our understanding of transformation is one of a shift in consciousness, perception or world view. Our interest in transformation research extends across many disciplines and has involved spiritual leaders, educators, neuroscientists, contemplatives, psychologists, and pharmocologists among others. We are currently developing a coherent scientific field on meditation and contemplative practices, with emphasis on the development of love and forgiveness.

Neurophysiologic Changes of Participants in an Ignation 30-day Retreat Experience

Shamatha Project: Exploring Human Transformation

Cultivating Emotional Balance in the Classroom

Transformative Professional Development with Educators