Publication: A compassionate self is a true self? self-compassion promotes subjective authenticity
Program
KU-Authors
KU Authors
Co-Authors
Zhang, Jia Wei
Chen, Serena
Shakur, Teodora K. Tomova
Chai, Wen Jia
Ramis, Tamilselvan
Shaban-Azad, Hadi
Razavi, Pooya
Nutankumar, Thingujam
Manukyan, Arpine
Publication Date
Language
Type
Embargo Status
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Alternative Title
Abstract
Theory and research converge to suggest that authenticity predicts positive psychological adjustment. Given these benefits of authenticity, there is a surprising dearth of research on the factors that foster authenticity. Five studies help fill this gap by testing whether self-compassion promotes subjective authenticity. Study 1 found a positive association between trait self-compassion and authenticity. Study 2 demonstrated that on days when people felt more self-compassionate, they also felt more authentic. Study 3 discovered that people experimentally induced to be self-compassionate reported greater state authenticity relative to control participants. Studies 4 and 5 recruited samples from multiple cultures and used a cross-sectional and a longitudinal design, respectively, and found that self-compassion predicts greater authenticity through reduced fear of negative evaluation (Study 4) and heightened optimism (Study 5). Across studies, self-compassion's effects on authenticity could not be accounted for by self-esteem. Overall, the results suggest that self-compassion can help cultivate subjective authenticity.
Source
Publisher
Sage
Subject
Psychology, social
Citation
Has Part
Source
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Book Series Title
Edition
DOI
10.1177/0146167218820914