Synonyms
Definition
Self-compassion involves relating to oneself with care and support when we suffer. Neff (2003b) defines self-compassion as consisting of three central components: self-kindness versus self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus overidentification. These elements combine and mutually interact to create a self-compassionate frame of mind when encountering personal mistakes, perceived inadequacies, or various experiences of life difficulty. Self-kindness entails being loving, gentle, and understanding toward oneself and involves actively soothing and comforting oneself in times of struggle. This response stands in contrast to a self-critical approach in which one judges or blames oneself for not being good enough or for not coping well enough with life challenges. Self-compassion involves framing one’s experiences of imperfection in light of the shared human experience,...
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Neff, K.D., Knox, M.C. (2020). Self-Compassion. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_1159
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