Do You Have the Heroic Gene? - Paul Ekman November 24, 2009

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Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/11/08/Does_Darwin_Illuminate_Emotion_and_Spirituality

What makes a stranger jump into a subway to pull someone out of danger? Renowned psychologist and researcher Paul Ekman explains the instinct he calls heroic compassion. Ekam believes the reaction is genetic: not everyone has it, and not all who have it know they do.

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Wonderfest, the Bay Area Festival of Science, is held each year in the beginning of November. Enjoy fascinating discussions between world-class scientists on cutting edge topics, as well as other fun exhibitions. Visit Wonderfest.org and join. - Wonderfest

For 32 years, Dr. Paul Ekman was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago and New York University. Ekman then received his Ph.D. from Adelphi University in 1958 after spending a year in clinical internship at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, part of UCSF.

His interests have focused on two separate but related topics. He originally focused on 'nonverbal' behavior, and by the mid-60's concentrated on the expression and physiology of emotion. His second interest is interpersonal deception.

His many honors have included the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association in 1991, and an honorary doctor of humane letters from the University of Chicago in 1994. Dr. Ekman retired from UCSF in 2004. He currently continues to consult on research and training related to emotion and deception.