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Compassionate Goals and Affect in Social Situations
Amy Canevello1, Jennifer Crocker2
1University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Motivation and Emotion
|September 12, 2017
Summary
Compassionate goals to help others foster social connection and ease. This mindset, driven by a desire to support others, leads to positive interpersonal feelings and a greater sense of belonging.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Motivation Science
- Interpersonal Relationships
Background:
- Optimal social interactions enhance well-being, but variability exists.
- Ecosystem theory of social motivation explains social behavior.
- Compassionate goals are proposed to influence social interaction quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between compassionate goals and feelings of social ease and connection.
- To explore the mediating role of a cooperative mindset in this association.
- To examine these relationships across diverse social contexts and studies.
Main Methods:
- Four empirical studies were conducted.
- Participants' compassionate goals and mindsets were assessed.
- Feelings of interpersonal ease and connection were measured.
Main Results:
- Compassionate goals consistently predicted greater feelings of ease and connection.
- A cooperative mindset was identified as a key mechanism.
- Findings suggest a temporal order: compassionate goals -> cooperative mindset -> ease/connection.
Conclusions:
- Compassionate goals are crucial for positive social interactions and well-being.
- Cultivating a cooperative mindset may enhance social connection.
- These findings have implications for understanding belonging and social motivation.
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