One tangible thing that we can all do to avoid misjudging others is to exercise compassion, to allow for the possibility that you might be wrong in attributing a trait to someone’s behavior. Indeed, this is the core principle at the heart of both social psychology and the teachings of the Dalai Lama. “Compassion is the key to happiness,” he says. “We are a social species and our happiness is defined by our relationship with others.”
