Preventing Violence Through Compassion

Dr. Greene was joined this month by Dr. James Gilligan, an American Psychiatrist and author who has completed extensive work on the biological, social and psychological factors of violence. Based on his life work, Dr. Gilligan theorizes that the ultimate cause of violence from an individual is feelings of shame, inferiority and unworthiness, citing the correlation between socioeconomic gaps and high rates of violence in developed countries. Implications for violence prevention include compassionate treatment and providing opportunities for the development of self-esteem.