Born to Be Good_ The Science of a Meanin.epub

BORN TO BE GOOD Dacher Keltner W. W. NORTON & COMPANY New York • London Copyright © 2009 by Dacher Keltner All rights reserved For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data ISBN: 978-0-393-07335-5 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110 www.wwnorton.com W. W. Norton & Company Ltd. Castle House, 75/76 Wells Street, London W1T 3QT TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN ME SO MUCH JEN: THE FAMILY WHO RAISED ME—JEANIE KELTNER, MY MOTHER; RICHARD KELTNER, MY FATHER; AND ROLF KELTNER, MY BROTHER— AND THE FAMILY WHO SUSTAINS ME— MOLLIE MCNEIL, MY WIFE; AND NATALIE AND SERAFINA KELTNER- MCNEIL, MY DAUGHTERS. Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1 Jen Science 2 Darwin’s Joys 3 Rational Irrationality 4 Survival of the Kindest 5 Embarrassment 6 Smile 7 Laughter 8 Tease 9 Touch 10 Love 11 Compassion 12 Awe Notes Text Acknowledgments PREFACE SOME SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS arise in powerful, fleeting experiences— a startl......