Compassion: From its evolution to a psychotherapy
Journal article
Authors | Gilbert, Paul |
---|---|
Abstract | The concept, benefits and recommendations for the cultivation of compassion have been recognized in the contemplative traditions for thousands of years. In the last 30 years or so, the study of compassion has revealed it to have major physiological and psychological effects influencing well-being, addressing mental health difficulties, and promoting prosocial behavior. This paper outlines an evolution informed biopsychosocial, multicomponent model to caring behavior and its derivative “compassion” that underpins newer approaches to psychotherapy. The paper explores the origins of caring motives and the nature and biopsychosocial functions of caring-attachment behavior. These include providing a secure base (sources of protection, validation, encouragement and guidance) and safe haven (source of soothing and comfort) for offspring along with physiological regulating functions, which are also central for compassion focused therapy. Second, it suggests that it is the way recent human cognitive competencies give rise to different types of “mind awareness” and “knowing intentionality” that transform basic caring motives into potentials for compassion. While we can care for our gardens and treasured objects, the concept of compassion is only used for sentient beings who can “suffer.” As psychotherapy addresses mental suffering, cultivating the motives and competencies of compassion to self and others can be a central focus for psychotherapy. |
Keywords | General Psychology; compassion; psychotherapy; evolution; caring; biopsychosocial |
Year | 2020 |
Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
Journal citation | 11 |
Publisher | Frontiers Media SA |
ISSN | 1664-1078 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586161 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/625462 |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | |
hdl:10545/625462 | |
Publication dates | 09 Dec 2020 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 14 Dec 2020, 14:48 |
Accepted | 20 Oct 2020 |
Rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International |
Contributors | University of Derby |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/9528q/compassion-from-its-evolution-to-a-psychotherapy
Download files
209
total views45
total downloads0
views this month0
downloads this month