compassion

Question 1

what is compassion?

Answer 1

• the feeling that arises in witnessing another’s suffering that motivates a subsequent desire to help
• result of evolutionary processes (some argue)

Question 2

what are the 3 characteristics of reducing the suffering of others + what do they share?

Answer 2

• compassion
• empathic distress
• pity
• share central features: antecedents, key appraisal components, action tendencies

Question 3

compassion vs empathy?

Answer 3

• feeling for others vs feeling with others
• approach vs withdrawal
• empathy is more self-orientated

Question 4

compassion vs pity?

Answer 4

difference in appraisal

Question 5

what are the 3 adaptive functions of compassion?

Answer 5

• welfare of offspring
• mate selection
• co-operation with others

Question 6

how is compassion distinct from empathic distress?

Answer 6

• self-focused
• competes with compassion
• motivates withdrawal

Question 7

how is compassion distinct from sadness?

Answer 7

• self-focused
• motivates withdrawal
• elicits compassion

Question 8

how is compassion distinct from romantic/maternal love?

Answer 8

• other-focused
• promotes positive attachments
• centres on affection and appreciation
• motivates physical and psychological closeness

Question 9

what should be the case if compassion is distinct?

Answer 9

• it should arise from a distinct appraisal process which centres on the evolutionary problem it is designed to solve (reduction of suffering)
• should be constrained by C&Bs of helping

Question 10

what is the appraisal of self-goal relevance?

Answer 10

compassion should be most intense in response to people who are self and goal relevant

Question 11

appraisal of self-goal relevance: Cialdini et al., (1997) study?

Answer 11

• participants imagine a stranger, acquaintance, friend, or close family
  member is evicted from their home
• degree of closeness (self-relevance) accounted for the relationship between compassion and willingness to help

Question 12

what is the appraisal of deservingness?

Answer 12

• prosocial people must be selective in their interactions to avoid exploitation by selfish people
• appraisals we make about the other person = are they altruistic, trustworthy? are they responsible for their suffering?

Question 13

appraisal of deservingness: Reyna & Weiner (2001) study?

Answer 13

• students who fail an exam when they didn’t study elicit less compassion than students who studied hard
• supports the idea that compassion increased the judgement of fairness or deservingness of compassion response

Question 14

what is the appraisal of coping potential?

Answer 14

• compassion should be sensitive to the costs associated with helping someone
• if the appraisal is that you are not, this activates distress, counteracts compassion and encourages withdrawal or empathic distress

Question 15

appraisal of coping potential: low coping = ?

Answer 15

activates distress and counteracts compassion

Question 16

what is the distinct compassion-related appraisal process?

Answer 16

appraisal processes that leads to compassion follows this pattern

Question 17

what is compassion fatigue?

Answer 17

• compassion fatigue: emotional, psychological, and physical exhaustion from witnessing the problems and suffering of others
• when the amount of compassion exceeds the person’s ability to cope or recover
• onset can be sudden, and associated with both physical and mental health complaints, as well as clear changes to behaviour

Question 18

is it true that people might display compassionate behaviours for reasons other than those outlined by Goetz et al. (2010)?

Answer 18

YES

Question 19

what was Catarino et al’s., (2014) study on submissive compassion?

Answer 19

• developed measure of submissive compassion
• showed no association with measures of genuine compassion
• high correlation with caring shame (fear of not being caring enough), and measures of depression and anxiety

Question 20

what was Catarino et al’s., (2014) study on submissive compassion - limitations?

Answer 20

• student sample, self-report
• compassion and associated motives may vary based on context
• direction of effects not determined; e.g., relationship between mood and submissive compassion

Question 21

what is compassion satisfaction?

Answer 21

• sense of fulfilment from helping others
• commonly researched in therapists and healthcare professionals

Question 22

what did the compassion satisfaction study find?

Answer 22

positive emotions associated with compassion satisfaction, both directly and indirectly (via positive reframing)

Question 23

how can compassion satisfaction be explained in terms of the broaden and build theory?

Answer 23

• positive emotions (joy, gratitude, interest)
• lead to more PR in a therapeutic context
• building of CS
• resources accumulate and contribute to overall well-being
• produces more experiences of positive emotions, creating an upward spiral
• CS is protective/buffers against compassion fatigue