For humans at least, “survival of the fittest” means survival of the kindest.

“This new science of altruism and the physiological underpinnings of compassion is finally catching up with Darwin’s observations nearly 130 years ago, that sympathy is [humanity's] strongest instinct.”

“Sympathy is indeed wired into our brains and bodies; and it spreads from one person to another through touch.”

These are the findings reported by Dacher Keltner, psychologist and author of “Born to be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life,” and other researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Their research puts a fine point on Darwin’s theory – which to me is no longer a theory – that humans have evolved in ways that promote the propagation of kindness and compassion into future generations. For humans at least, “survival of the fittest” means survival of the kindest.

“Because of our very vulnerable offspring, the fundamental task for human survival and gene replication is to take care of others,” said Keltner. “Human beings have survived as a species because we have evolved the capacities to care for those in need and to cooperate. As Darwin long ago surmised, sympathy is our strongest instinct.”

It isn’t reported often in the news, but I believe generosity is the rule rather than the exception among humans. “The findings [of the study] suggest that anyone who acts only in his or her narrow self-interest will be shunned, disrespected, even hated,” UC Berkeley social psychologist and sociologist Robb Willer said. “But those who behave generously with others are held in high esteem by their peers and thus rise in status. Given how much is to be gained through generosity, social scientists increasingly wonder less why people are ever generous and more why they are ever selfish.”

I really like this theory about human nature. It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity portrayed by the evening news. Remember, however, that the nightly news is intended to ferret out that which is UNUSUAL. Humans have a tendency to focus attention on what is unusual and extraordinary rather than on that which is common or ordinary. But attention is not evolution! In general, babies are born to compassionate parents – parents who genuinely care for each other (at least at the time of conception).

“Love children” are the rule rather than the exception. That’s my contention. And it seems my belief is now found some evidence embodied in the UC Berkley research. I believe Keltner and his associates are truly on to something useful as far as a general frame for human evolutionary psychology studies.

The NLP axiom that people will tend not to do things that may harm themselves or others (called ecology) seems to be substantiated by this research and theory.

I look forward to a generation some day that is filled with compassion for all nature, rather than just humanity.