Self‐compassion promotes self‐concept clarity and self‐change in response to negative events

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveNegative events tend to reduce self‐concept clarity, which could hinder self‐change. Three studies (total n = 1603) including two preregistered tested whether inducing self‐compassion in response to negative events promotes self‐concept clarity and self‐change.MethodsParticipants engaged in either a self‐compassionate or a control writing task regarding negative events. They responded to the scales of self‐concept clarity and self‐change before and after the manipulation. Self‐change was assessed using two indicators: self‐improvement regarding the negative aspects of the self (i.e., negativity transformation, Studies 1–3) and openness to self‐change (Studies 2 and 3). In Study 3, self‐esteem and affect were assessed to test alternative processes.ResultsAcross the studies, participants induced to be self‐compassionate reported higher levels of self‐concept clarity, negativity transformation (except in Study 1), and openness to self‐change. Studies 2 and 3 found that self‐concept clarity mediated the effect of self‐compassion on openness to self‐change. Study 3 indicated that this indirect effect remained significant, while the indirect effect of self‐compassion on negativity transformation was nonsignificant when self‐esteem and affect were considered.ConclusionsOverall, boosting self‐compassion in response to negative events could help people retain self‐concept clarity and, thus, be open to self‐change. Self‐compassion could also orient people to engage in negativity transformation.