Publications [#53006] of Eleanor B Tate

Articles Submitted

1. Leary, M. R., E.B. Tate, Adams, C. E., Allen, A. B., & Hancock, J. (2006). Self-compassion, self-esteem, and reactions to negative events: The implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
   (last updated on 2007/01/10)

   Abstract:
   Four studies investigated the cognitive and emotional processes by which self-compassionate people deal with real-life events. Participants rated themselves and others while answering potentially awkward and embarrassing questions, responded to hypothetical scenarios, reacted to interpersonal feedback, and reflected on personal negative experiences. Results from Study 1 suggest that (a) highly self-compassionate people feel better about themselves and their performance during an embarrassing event, (b) low self-compassionate people undervalue their own performance, (c) these evaluations are not based on actual behavioral differences, and (d) self-compassion does not affect judgments of other people. Study 2 found that self-compassion helps to buffer people against negative self-emotions when imagining various upsetting social events. Study 3 found that self-compassion buffers participants against negative emotions following an experimental negative feedback situation, particularly for participants low in self-esteem. It also revealed that highly self-compassionate people are less reactive to feedback and rate others more positively after receiving unflattering feedback. Study 4 indicated that self-compassionate people acknowledge their role in causing negative events, but accept character imperfections without feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions. In general, these studies suggest that self-compassion is particularly beneficial when dealing with negative events and that it is distinct from and, in some cases preferable to, self-esteem.