It's often not enough to know what to do in order to actively care effectively (i.e., competence) and to be motivated to perform AC4P behavior (i.e., commitment). The missing ingredient is courage. The same five person-states introduced in Chapter 2 as determinants of AC4P behavior are discussed here as precursors to courage.

The simple AC4P intervention strategies presented in this chapter are practical for large-scale application and the achievement of evidence-based benefits. But none have been adopted on a broad scale. Why not? Is it lack of compassion, courage, commitment, competence, self-motivation, or something else? Exploring answers to this question will help us determine the next steps in nurturing an AC4P culture of compassion.

INTERPERSONAL INTERVENTION AND COURAGE

As with any program designed to improve behavior, people could claim they lack the resources and/or time to implement the intervention. They could doubt the effectiveness of the AC4P technique and wonder whether the time to implement the interpersonal intervention is worth the effort. However, these excuses are irrelevant for the techniques described here. Why? Because they are straightforward and easy to accomplish with minimal effort. More important, empirical research has demonstrated the beneficial impact of these simple interpersonal approaches to promoting human welfare and/or preventing harm to people.

Standard excuses for inaction cannot work here. So what is the barrier to large-scale implementation of simple-to-use interpersonal methods that clearly benefit everyone involved?

The key word is interpersonal. Each effective intervention method requires personal interaction with other people. It's likely many people lack the courage to intervene as an agent of change. This chapter discusses the level of courage needed and suggests ways to develop that courage in ourselves and others. Bottom line: What does it take for more people to become interpersonal change agents on behalf of the welfare of others? Effortless evidenced-based techniques to help people prevent harm to themselves and others are available, but at this time it seems too few people have the courage to use them.

WHAT IS COURAGE?

The American Heritage Dictionary defines courage as “the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence, and resolution.”