SELF-COMPASSION: CONCEPTUALIZATIONS, CORRELATES, & INTERVENTIONS (part IV)
I have been exploring the idea of self-compassion through reading books on Eastern Religion, (Buddhism, the Dalai Lama, etc.) analyzing professional research articles, and practicing it in my daily life. I came across one study that was conducted which I feel has great insight into self-compassion. This study will be broken down into several posts because of the amount of information that is available! THIS IS PART IV
SELF-COMPASSION: CONCEPTUALIZATIONS, CORRELATES, & INTERVENTIONS
Laura K. Barnard and John F. Curry (Duke University)
Self-Compassion Vs. Other “Self-Themes”
Self-Criticism-
”Self-critical student’s reported more perceived criticism from others and less perceived social support”
“Self-critical adults reported less trait-based and behavior-based communion with others and less pleasant affect after interactions with others”
it is believed that “self-critics show less intimacy and affiliative strivings perhaps because they fear rejection and disapproval”
“self-critics tended to cope by avoiding situations that presented opportunities for failures (behavioral disengagement) or by avoiding thoughts and feelings associated with self-criticisms (mental disengagement)”
“Self-critics were found to be avoidant rather than mindfully aware”
Self-Esteem-
“self-esteem is positively correlated with negative constructs but self compassion is not. For instance, although self-esteem is positively associated with narcissism, self-compassion is not”
“self-compassion is negatively associated with anger and catastrophizing, self-esteem is not significantly related to these constructs”
“high and low self-esteem are positively associated with distorted self-knowledge (either seeing the worst in others or in themselves respectively), but only low self-compassion is positively associated with distorted self-knowledge”
“even after controlling for self-esteem, self compassion is still negatively associated with self-rumination, anger, personalizing, and negative affect”
“Self-compassion also remains uniquely, positively associated with equanimity, happiness, optimism, and positive affect”
Self-Pity, Self-Centeredness, & Self-Complacency
”Self-pity is associated with a narrowed scope of vision that is characterized by being engrossed in one’s own suffering to the point of exaggerating it. Self-compassion is thought to break self-absorption by relating one’s own suffering to others’ and by holding pain in mindful awareness”
“self-compassion is not thought to engender self-centeredness because of the common humanity component. Buddhist thought asserts that self-compassion should foster social connectedness and compassion for others”
“distinct from self-complacency, self-compassion is thought to enable clear seeing of one’s failings without a need for being defensive…it’s about understanding faults, not colluding with them… Self-compassion should encourage growth”
Barnard, L. K. & Curry, J. F. (2011). Self-Compassion: Conceptualizations, correlates, & interventions. Review of General Psychology, 15(4), 289-303.
Pingback: Getting closer « onbeingmindful