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Review
. 2020 Dec 9:11:586161.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586161. eCollection 2020.

Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy

Paul Gilbert  1
Affiliations
Review

Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy

Paul Gilbert. Front Psychol. .

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.

Keywords: biopsychosocial; caring; compassion; evolution; psychotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Safety and threat processing © Paul Gilbert.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Safeness and threat processing © Paul Gilbert.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mapping the mind. Adapted from Gilbert (2019).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Multiple responses to life traumas and tragedies © Paul Gilbert.
Figure 5
Figure 5
From caring to compassion. Adapted from Gilbert (2018).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Domains for therapeutic engagement. Adapted from Gilbert (2009a) Compassionate Mind with permission from Little Brown.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Outline of the competitive vs. caring social mentality as a therapy focus © Paul Gilbert.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Fears of compassion and attachment history. Adapted from Gilbert (2009b).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Overview of core processes in CFT © Paul Gilbert.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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