Izlaganje sa skupa
EPIGENETIC IMPRINT OF "COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY" TRIGGERED BY VULNERABILITY AND MENTAL ILLNESSES
Matija Dvorski
; Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Sports Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Mislav Šelendić
; Department of Healthcare, Division for Pedagogical Activities, Research and Development, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Rijeka, Croa
Iskra Alexandra Nola
; Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Sports Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Sažetak
Epigenetics investigates connection between our genes and our environment. It has been hypothesized that certain conditions we
experience can influence our gene expression and can probably be passed onto our children, transgenerational transfer of trauma
being one of them. We postulate that the notion of compassion has also been passed on from one generation to another. Our
ancestors discovered that groups have a higher chance of survival than individuals. Thus, psychological traits that help form social
cohesion, like compassion, are proven beneficial and passed onto the next generation.
However, our perception of compassion has changed through time. In the beginning, it was expressed as a feeling of sympathy
for the vulnerable, for example the elderly, the sick, pregnant women and children. These groups were innately perceived as
deserving compassion. As our social awareness grew, so did the list of vulnerable groups, including members of different races,
sexual or gender orientations, etc. Over time, a shift in the way we feel compassion has occurred.
Nowadays, it almost seems like only those belonging to a vulnerable group are justified to feel suffering or oppression. At the
same time, the suffering of those who do not belong to these exclusive vulnerable groups is marginalized. Mental illnesses like
anxiety or depression are trivialized if the person in question is perceived as being privileged (in any sense), while at the same time,
they are seen as warning signs if the person suffering is vulnerable. If one truly needs attention, help, or both, the easiest way is to
declare oneself vulnerable. If this trend continues, we postulate that a lack of compassion in our modern society will have an impact
on future societies as well. Through transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, this can create future societies whose sense of
compassion will be shaped only by the definition/perception of those who are currently perceived as vulnerable
Ključne riječi
compassion; epigenetics; mental illness; society; vulnerability
Hrčak ID:
271859
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.10.2021.
Posjeta: 286 *