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Self-compassion: no communal alternative to agentic self-esteem.

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Summary

Self-compassion, a positive self-attitude, is strongly linked to agency, not communion, unlike self-esteem. This research explores self-compassion versus self-esteem in relation to agency and communion.

Keywords:
agencycommunionself-compassionself-conceptself-esteem

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Self-Concept Research

Background:

  • Self-esteem, a key positive self-attitude, is primarily explained by agency.
  • Communion, another dimension of self-concept, has received less attention in relation to self-esteem.
  • Self-compassion, characterized by self-kindness, offers an alternative to self-esteem.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between self-compassion and the fundamental dimensions of self-concept: agency and communion.
  • To compare the predictive power of agency and communion on self-compassion.
  • To examine self-compassion as a potential communal alternative to self-esteem.

Main Methods:

  • Two empirical studies were conducted.
  • Statistical analyses were used to assess the associations between self-compassion, self-esteem, agency, and communion.
  • Specific facets of self-compassion (self-kindness) and agency/communion were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Self-compassion demonstrated a strong association with agency, particularly assertiveness.
  • Self-compassion showed only a weak relationship with communion.
  • Self-kindness, a component of self-compassion, was weakly related to communion (warmth).
  • Self-esteem was predominantly predicted by agency (assertiveness), with weaker contributions from competence and warmth.

Conclusions:

  • Self-compassion is strongly predicted by agency, similar to self-esteem.
  • Self-compassion does not appear to be a communal alternative to self-esteem.
  • Findings suggest self-compassion is an alternative positive self-attitude, but not one rooted in communion.