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The Conscious Road to Compassion

The Conscious Road to Compassion. A Social Psychological Perspective on the Quiet Ego. Heidi A. Wayment, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Northern Arizona University May 16, 2013. What is compassion? What are the barriers to compassion? What is a “quiet ego?” What good is a “quiet ego?”

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The Conscious Road to Compassion

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  1. The Conscious Road to Compassion A Social Psychological Perspective on the Quiet Ego Heidi A. Wayment, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Northern Arizona University May 16, 2013

  2. What is compassion? What are the barriers to compassion? What is a “quiet ego?” What good is a “quiet ego?” Can a “quiet ego” be cultivated? Outline

  3. At the core of every spiritual and religious tradition “... the feeling that arises in witnessing another’s suffering and that motivates a subsequent desire to help.” What is Compassion?

  4. Witness suffering No No Is target deserving of help? Does target’s suffering satisfy self goal? Anger Yes No Do I have resources to help? Distress Anxiety Fear Yes Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  5. Witness suffering No No Is target deserving of help? Does target’s suffering satisfy self goal? Anger Yes No Do I have resources to help? Distress Anxiety Fear Yes Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  6. Witness suffering No No Is target deserving of help? Does target’s suffering satisfy self goal? Anger Yes No Do I have resources to help? Distress Anxiety Fear Yes Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  7. Witness suffering No No Is target deserving of help? Does target’s suffering satisfy self goal? Anger Yes No Do I have resources to help? Distress Anxiety Fear Yes Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  8. Witness suffering No No Is target deserving of help? Does target’s suffering satisfy self goal? Anger Yes No Do I have resources to help? Distress Anxiety Fear Yes Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  9. Witness suffering No No Is target deserving of help? Does target’s suffering satisfy self goal? Anger Yes No Do I have resources to help? Distress Anxiety Fear Yes Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  10. Emotion Behavior • Cognition

  11. Psychological Distance

  12. Compassion ... the recognition that any perceived distinction between others and ourselves is only a "fleeting, deceptive phenomenon" Schopenhauer (1969, p. 372)

  13. Social Psychological Mechanisms

  14. Self-Esteem Protection Self-focus Fear Self-Enhancement Witness suffering Is target deserving of help? Do I have resources to help? Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  15. Perceived Similarity Social Identity Theory Belief in a Just World Fundamental Attribution Error Self-Construal Social Comparison Witness suffering Is target deserving of help? Do I have resources to help? Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  16. Diffusion of Responsibility Social Loafing Witness suffering Is target deserving of help? Do I have resources to help? Compassion Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010 Psychological Bulletin

  17. Less defended stance toward self and others What is a “Quiet Ego?” Balanced recognition of one’s strengths and weaknesses that paves the way for personal growth and compassion for the self and others

  18. Quiet Ego Mindfulness Interdependent Identity Perspective Taking Growth

  19. Sample Items I find myself doing things without paying much attention.I feel a connection to all living things.Before criticizing somebody, I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in their place.For me, life has been a continuous process of learning, changing, and growth. Quiet Ego Scale

  20. Study One (n = 300, n = 330) Can a higher-order “quiet ego” construct be identified? Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  21. e e e e Quiet Ego Mindfulness Interdependent Identity Perspective Taking Growth .40 .44 .55 .70 χ2 with 73 df = 126.19, p < .001, χ2:df = 1.73, CFI = .94, NNFI = .92, RMSEA = .05 N = 319 χ2 with 73 df = 90.44, p = .08, χ2:df = 1.24, CFI = .98, NNFI = .98, RMSEA = .03 N = 337

  22. Study Two (n = 581) Coefficient alpha = .78 Psychological correlates of QE Can QES predict lower levels of negative and hostile behavior? Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  23. ++ Big 5, Self-Determination, Honesty-Humility, cognitive reappraisal, holistic thinking --Expressive suppression,physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, hostility, negative thinking, and psychological entitlement QES very modestly related to less negative thoughts/behaviors, controlling for Big 5 personality traits and self-determination. Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  24. Study Three (n = 207) Coefficient alpha = .78 QES and several prosocial attitudes and behaviors, self-esteem. Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  25. ++ self-esteem, youth assets and sustainable attitudes. -- psychological risk taking, energy wasting behavior. t(208) = Controlling for self-esteem, QE associated with value assets, and sustainable attitudes. Modestly associated with psychological risk taking. Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  26. Study Four (n = 164, first-generation college Ss) Coefficient alpha = .78 ++ self-compassion, five-facet mindfulness, authenticity ++ resiliency, life satisfaction, coping efficacy QE associated with psychological strengths, controlling for mindfulness, authenticity, self-compassion Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  27. Study Five (n = 391) Coefficient alpha = .786 ++ flourishing, self-transcendence, pro-environmental attitudes, life satisfaction, and self-compassion. Controlling for Big 5, self-compassion, self-transcendence, QE associated with lower levels of depression/anxiety. Wayment, Bauer, & Sylaska (2013)

  28. Unemployment Study (n = 262) Wayment et al., (2011)

  29. Increase our AWARENESS of our psychological defensesLearn and remind ourselves of our abilities to be mindful, have an interdependent identity, feel empathy, and value human growth. What Good is a Quiet Ego?

  30. Mood Repair Study Using a 15-minute Quiet Ego Contemplation Can QEC improve coping with stress? Can it alter our tendency to act in a self-defensive way? Collier et al., (2013)

  31. Cultivating a Quiet Ego ...when we are motivated to grow as individuals, remind ourselves that we are connected to each other and all living things, behave mindfully and with awareness and sensitivity to others, and feel the emotions of an open heart, both toward ourselves and others.

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