Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of Compassion

Abstract

This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological research design to investigate how preservice teachers perceived compassion. The sample consisted of 43 students from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that participants associated “compassion” with “pity,” “sympathy,” “being human’,” “affection,” “empathy,” “help,” “favor,” “conscience,” and “forgiveness.” They stated that compassion was necessary to understand others and to maintain social order and peace. The most common forms of compassion were “having compassion for animals,” “helping those in need,” “helping the poor,” “parents’ compassion,” “helping the old,” and “love for children.” Participants recommended that parents and teachers be role models for others, inculcate compassion in children, and get them to help others, adopt animals, visit nursing homes, and read books.