selfcompassion

Self-compassion is an attitude toward oneself that combines kindness and understanding with a recognition of shared humanity and mindful awareness during times of difficulty. It involves treating oneself with warmth rather than harsh self-judgment, seeing one’s struggles as part of the larger human experience rather than isolating events, and maintaining balanced attention to painful thoughts and feelings without over-identifying with them.

Psychologist Kristin Neff popularized the term in the 2000s and identified three core components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Self-kindness means being gentle with oneself; common humanity acknowledges that imperfection is part of the human condition; mindfulness entails observing painful experiences with balanced attention rather than avoidance or rumination.

Measurement and evidence: The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is widely used to assess trait self-compassion. A growing body of research links higher self-compassion with greater well-being and lower distress, including reduced anxiety and depression, less rumination, and more adaptive coping. Interventions such as mindful self-compassion programs and compassion-focused therapy have reported improvements in mood, self-criticism, and resilience.

Applications and limitations: Self-compassion is applied in clinical psychology, education, and workplace settings to reduce burnout and improve coping. Critics caution that self-compassion should not promote indulgence or avoidance of accountability, and note cultural variations in accepting self-directed kindness. Ongoing debates concern measurement and the generalizability of findings across diverse populations.

Related concepts include mindfulness, self-esteem, and resilience.