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.
Highlights
This paper has highlighted the evolution of caring and its transition into compassion
It has explored the psychological functions of caring and compassion motives that are salient to psychotherapy for helping people in distressed states in mind
We have addressed the fact that compassion is not one process, but a multi-faceted process, where people can be good at some aspects of compassion or some competencies of compassion, but not others
Summary
Since there are different approaches to compassion and its application in psychotherapy (Gilbert, 2017b), this section explores the link between the evolution of caring and the emergence of compassion as a human motive and process. These create a menu of interventions for people with mental health problems; for example, some clients may need particular help with developing vagal tone, others with becoming more empathic, others with fears and distrust of compassion, and yet others with experiencing caring motivation itself and (maybe) to tone down narcissistic self-focus.
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