Rosenberg suggests that our natural inclination is toward loving kindness, but that we are led away from this through societal conditioning. Can you think of examples of societally normalized ways in which children are “trained” into proper behavior which rely on classifications of “goodness” and “badness”? These examples could be universal truisms, school disciplinary systems, or examples from your own childhood. Do you agree with Rosenberg that these examples inhibit the natural inclination toward loving kindness? Why or why not?

According to Rosenberg’s principles of compassionate self-talk, explain why treating yourself with loving empathy is the first step in managing to treat others with loving empathy?

According to Rosenberg’s findings on the importance of labeling feelings and needs, why might a limited vocabulary be connected to frustration and depression?