The Caring Observer: Creating Self-Compassion through Psychodrama

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Positive Mood ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Mood States ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Healing Agent

A growing body of research indicates that self-compassion and self-esteem contribute to overall optimism and hopefulness. Self-compassion is a more stable and enduring trait in positive mood states, openness, and resilience and is a stronger healing agent for depression, anxiety, self-loathing, and self-injurious behaviors. The Caring Observer is a role created through psychodrama to evoke a warm embrace of the self, the ability to hold one's self in kindness through suffering, and the sense of feeling connected to humanity rather than isolated and ashamed—all traits of self-compassion.

scholarly journals The Effects of Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem Writing Interventions on Women’s Valuation of Weight Management Goals, Body Appreciation, and Eating Behaviors

2021 ◽  
pp. 036168432110134
Author(s):  
Kheana Barbeau ◽  
Camille Guertin ◽  
Kayla Boileau ◽  
Luc Pelletier
Keyword(s):  
Weight Management ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Writing Interventions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Bulimic Symptoms

In this study, we examined the effects of body-focused daily self-compassion and self-esteem expressive writing activities on women’s valuation of weight management goals, body appreciation, bulimic symptoms, and healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors. One-hundred twenty-six women, recruited from the community and a university participant pool ( Mage = 29.3, SD = 13.6), were randomly allocated to one of the three writing conditions: body-focused self-compassion, body-focused self-esteem, or control. Women reflected on a moment within the past 24 hours that made them feel self-conscious about their bodies, eating, or exercise habits (self-compassion and self-esteem conditions) or on a particular situation or feeling that occurred in the past 24 hours (control condition) for 4–7 days. At post-treatment (24 hours after the intervention), women in the self-compassion group demonstrated decreased bulimic symptoms, while women in the self-esteem and control conditions did not. Furthermore, clinically significant changes in bulimic symptoms were associated with being in the self-compassion condition but not in the self-esteem or control conditions. Results suggest that body-focused writing interventions may be more effective in temporarily reducing eating disorder symptoms in women if they focus on harnessing self-compassion. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/03616843211013465

The Self as Activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Weger ◽  
Klaus Herbig
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Ideal Self ◽  
The Real ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Person Perspective ◽  
Self Schema ◽  
Core Self

The self is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon that is often described through its subcomponents (e.g., self-control, self-esteem, self-compassion). The entity that unifies these subcomponents is more elusive and difficult to access, at least with standard psychological methods. In the current inquiry we set out to illuminate and extend the understanding of the self by exploring the differentiation of the self as a “content” versus a “process” (e.g., self-schema vs. self-activity). We also differentiate the “self” from the “I,” exploring characteristics of a 3rd- versus a 1st-person perspective to this core psychological entity. We pursue an empirical 1st-person inquiry that is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on concepts from both psychology and religious studies (in particular the “essential” or “core” self in psychology, as well as the “real” or “ideal” self in religious studies in the form of the “I Am” statements in the Gospels). Our approach illustrates how a consideration of phenomenological, 1st-person qualities of selfhood allows for an enriched, empirically based understanding of crucially important but subtle dimensions of I-ness that remain inaccessible to 3rd-person exploration.

scholarly journals Can Self-Esteem Protect Against the Deleterious Consequences of Self-Objectification for Mood and Body Satisfaction in Physically Active Female University Students?

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani ◽  
Nikos Ntoumanis ◽  
Jennifer Cumming ◽  
Kimberley J. Bartholomew ◽  
Gemma Pearce
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Body Satisfaction ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Mood States ◽  
The Self ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
Shape And Size

Using objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), this study tested the interaction between self-objectification, appearance evaluation, and self-esteem in predicting body satisfaction and mood states. Participants (N = 93) were physically active female university students. State self-objectification was manipulated by participants wearing tight revealing exercise attire (experimental condition) or baggy exercise clothes (control condition). Significant interactions emerged predicting depression, anger, fatness, and satisfaction with body shape and size. For participants in the self-objectification condition who had low (as opposed to high) appearance evaluation, low self-esteem was associated with high depression, anger, and fatness and low satisfaction with body shape and size. In contrast, for participants with high self-esteem, these mood and body satisfaction states were more favorable irrespective of their levels of appearance evaluation. For female exercisers, self-esteem-enhancing strategies may protect against some of the negative outcomes of self-objectification.

scholarly journals Compassion for Self versus Other: A Critical Review of Compassion Training Research

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan T Quaglia ◽  
Annelyse Soisson ◽  
Judith Simmer-Brown
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Training Research

There is rapidly growing interest in Western compassion trainings that rely especially on traditional Buddhist practices. This growing body of research distinguishes between two distinct compassion constructs, namely self-compassion versus other-oriented compassion (hereafter, other-compassion). However, the Buddhist traditions from which most studied compassion practices derive emphasize the relevance of compassion for breaking down artificial barriers between self and other. We therefore conducted a comprehensive review of 94 randomized controlled trials on compassion training, examining how the dualistic division of compassion (into self- versus other-compassion) has shaped compassion training research to date. Our review finds patterns both consistent (e.g., a disproportionate focus on the self-oriented benefits of compassion trainings) and inconsistent (e.g., particular pairings of self-other emphasis across training and outcome) with the dualistic division of compassion. Overall, findings reveal the need for more research on social benefits of self- and other-compassion training, as well as less dualistic approaches to compassion.

scholarly journals The relationship between self-esteem and self-compassion in socially anxious

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Holas ◽  
Melanie Kowalczyk ◽  
Izabela Krejtz ◽  
Katarzyna Wisiecka ◽  
Tomasz Jankowski
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Fear of evaluation and a negative view of the self are the core aspects of social anxiety. Self-compassion and self-esteem are two distinct positive attitudes toward the self, which are positively related to each other, well-being and good psychological functioning. It is less clear, however, how they interplay in socially anxious individuals and if self-compassion may reduce the negative effect of low self-esteem on social anxiety. The current research aimed at evaluating the directional links between those constructs to check if self-compassion mediates the effect of self-esteem on social anxiety. In this study, 388 adult participants with elevated social anxiety completed measures of self-compassion, self-esteem and social anxiety. As expected, both self-esteem and self-compassion correlated negatively with social anxiety and positively with one another, with lower self-esteem being a stronger predictor of social anxiety. Importantly, self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between self-esteem and social anxiety. These findings suggest that self-compassion partially explains the negative effects of deficits in self-esteem on social anxiety. Practical implications of the research are discussed.

scholarly journals The Importance of Self-Compassion in Terms of Self Psychology

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-126
Author(s):  
Ming-Yu Claudia Wong
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Self Psychology ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
The Self ◽  
True Self ◽  
New Era ◽  
Self Compassion

Self-compassion has fostered a new way to build connectedness with oneself and affirmed the importance of offering compassion to oneself. However, there have been numerous arguments about the similarity with other self-related concepts, yet they have neglected its importance in self-psychology. For instance, self-compassion could be seen as an important element in Kohut’s concept of self in illustrating the self-object and self-experience theory, thus leading to a healthy self. Additionally, the self-schemas (self-esteem and self-efficacy) have been sufficiently shown to be associating with and predicting positive psychological outcomes and have further demonstrated the positive relations with self-compassion. Self-compassion thus demonstrated that similar features have been shared among the self-schemas. Moreover, with the claim that self-compassion was more precise than self-esteem, self-compassion should be emphasized by self-psychology then to develop a new era of “true self-esteem”.

scholarly journals The Сoncept of Self-compassion: a Russian Adaptation of the Scale by Kristin Neff

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-48
Author(s):  
K.A. Chistopolskaya ◽  
E.N. Osin ◽  
S.N. Enikolopov ◽  
E.L. Nikolaev ◽  
G.A. Mysina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Relationships ◽  
Time Perspective ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Russian Version ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Compassion Scale

The article describes a relatively new psychological construct of self-compassion and its relation to another well-known notion, self-esteem. Arguments are presented in favor of the new construct in working with adolescents and patients. According to that, there is a need of an adaptation on a Russian sample of the scale, which measures self-compassion. It was hypothesized that the Self-Compassion Scale by K. Neff will be an appropriate instrument to measure the construct on a Russian sample, as it passed successful adaptation in many other countries. For that purpose the scale was translated, and was then given to students in three Russian cities, along with Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Almost Perfect Scale, Experience in Close Relationships – Revised, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (students were from Moscow, Cheboksary, Kirov, N = 490, 152 males, 337 females, one person undefined, aged 17— 28 (М = 19,3, SD = 1,2)). ESEM showed satisfactory fit of the model with 6 specific factors (subscales) (χ2(184) = 452,074; CFI = 0,956; TLI = 0,923; RMSEA = 0, 055 (0,048; 0,061), SRMR = 0,028). Indices of reliability for the subscales were also satisfactory. Correlations of the subscales with other questionnaires showed good construct validity. Thus, the Russian version of the Self-Compassion Scale by K. Neff can be used in clinical and research purposes on Russian youth samples.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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