Does self-compassion increase self-improvement?
Researchers recently compared people in a self-compassion condition, compared to a self-esteem condition and found that those with self-compassion a) expressed greater beliefs about a personal weakness, b) reported greater motivation to make amends and avoid repeating a recent moral transgression, c) spent more time studying for a difficult test following an initial failure, d) exhibited a preference for upward social comparison after reflecting on a personal weakness, and e) reported greater motivation to change a weakness.
The authors conclude from this research that taking an accepting approach to personal failure may make people more motivated to improve.
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012 Sep;38(9):1133-43
Researchers recently compared people in a self-compassion condition, compared to a self-esteem condition and found that those with self-compassion a) expressed greater beliefs about a personal weakness, b) reported greater motivation to make amends and avoid repeating a recent moral transgression, c) spent more time studying for a difficult test following an initial failure, d) exhibited a preference for upward social comparison after reflecting on a personal weakness, and e) reported greater motivation to change a weakness.
The authors conclude from this research that taking an accepting approach to personal failure may make people more motivated to improve.
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012 Sep;38(9):1133-43
