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Questions and Answers
How does compassion contribute to mental health according to the content?
How does compassion contribute to mental health according to the content?
What role do behavioral experiments play in compassion-focused therapy (CFT)?
What role do behavioral experiments play in compassion-focused therapy (CFT)?
What is a significant challenge associated with self-criticism and shame in mental health?
What is a significant challenge associated with self-criticism and shame in mental health?
Which aspect of the brain does compassion engage according to the content?
Which aspect of the brain does compassion engage according to the content?
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What technique in therapy is mentioned to reveal the inner critic?
What technique in therapy is mentioned to reveal the inner critic?
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Which of the following abilities is linked to sensitivity to the needs of others?
Which of the following abilities is linked to sensitivity to the needs of others?
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What is primarily affected by problems in processing others' needs or distress?
What is primarily affected by problems in processing others' needs or distress?
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How does receiving care in early life impact individuals?
How does receiving care in early life impact individuals?
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What aspect differentiates individuals with psychopathic difficulties from those with genuine empathy?
What aspect differentiates individuals with psychopathic difficulties from those with genuine empathy?
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What is the role of the caregiving social motivational system?
What is the role of the caregiving social motivational system?
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What evolutionary advantage do mammals gain from the motives to seek and respond to care?
What evolutionary advantage do mammals gain from the motives to seek and respond to care?
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What does Neff refer to as a dimension of self-compassion?
What does Neff refer to as a dimension of self-compassion?
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Which term describes the inner feeling of disconnectedness and separateness?
Which term describes the inner feeling of disconnectedness and separateness?
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Which of these personality dimensions is linked to sensitivity to others' needs?
Which of these personality dimensions is linked to sensitivity to others' needs?
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What type of signal do individuals with Asperger spectrum difficulties struggle to process?
What type of signal do individuals with Asperger spectrum difficulties struggle to process?
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What type of loneliness is characterized by a lack of social opportunities for relating?
What type of loneliness is characterized by a lack of social opportunities for relating?
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What distinguishes loneliness from solitude?
What distinguishes loneliness from solitude?
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What common percentage of individuals have reported feeling personally lonely according to Cacioppo & Patrick?
What common percentage of individuals have reported feeling personally lonely according to Cacioppo & Patrick?
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Which psychological perspective links the yearning for connectedness to cooperative living?
Which psychological perspective links the yearning for connectedness to cooperative living?
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What is one of the key focuses of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)?
What is one of the key focuses of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)?
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How do many authors characterize the nature of human existence?
How do many authors characterize the nature of human existence?
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What is a key focus in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)?
What is a key focus in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)?
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What is one of the interventions used in CFT to help balance the autonomic nervous system?
What is one of the interventions used in CFT to help balance the autonomic nervous system?
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Which of the following is NOT an activity included in the compassion cultivation exercises?
Which of the following is NOT an activity included in the compassion cultivation exercises?
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What does the psycho-education phase in CFT aim to achieve?
What does the psycho-education phase in CFT aim to achieve?
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Which aspect is emphasized to cultivate a compassionate self?
Which aspect is emphasized to cultivate a compassionate self?
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What is the ultimate goal of cultivating a 'compassionate' self according to CFT?
What is the ultimate goal of cultivating a 'compassionate' self according to CFT?
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Which of the following best describes the nature of the phases in CFT?
Which of the following best describes the nature of the phases in CFT?
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What type of emotions does CFT aim to stimulate through its exercises?
What type of emotions does CFT aim to stimulate through its exercises?
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What is the primary source of care and nurturance according to social mentalities?
What is the primary source of care and nurturance according to social mentalities?
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Which response reflects a feeling of being unappreciated or cheated in a social context?
Which response reflects a feeling of being unappreciated or cheated in a social context?
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In which mentality does a sense of involuntary subordination often occur?
In which mentality does a sense of involuntary subordination often occur?
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What aspect does the caring mentality necessitate from the other?
What aspect does the caring mentality necessitate from the other?
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Which combination of responses is indicative of someone feeling overwhelmed in a care-giving role?
Which combination of responses is indicative of someone feeling overwhelmed in a care-giving role?
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What is a common feeling associated with sexual mentality when faced with rejection?
What is a common feeling associated with sexual mentality when faced with rejection?
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What does the cooperative mentality primarily value?
What does the cooperative mentality primarily value?
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What is the perception of the self in a competitive mentality?
What is the perception of the self in a competitive mentality?
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Which brain region is activated during compassion induction?
Which brain region is activated during compassion induction?
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Self-compassion is more beneficial in coping with setbacks compared to which of the following?
Self-compassion is more beneficial in coping with setbacks compared to which of the following?
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What role does the posterior medial cortex play in pride induction?
What role does the posterior medial cortex play in pride induction?
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According to attachment theory, what primarily supports an infant’s survival?
According to attachment theory, what primarily supports an infant’s survival?
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What evolutionary advantage is suggested to arise from extended caring?
What evolutionary advantage is suggested to arise from extended caring?
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Which aspect of early caregiving influences genetic expression and brain maturation?
Which aspect of early caregiving influences genetic expression and brain maturation?
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What is a significant impact of interacting with multiple caregivers in infancy?
What is a significant impact of interacting with multiple caregivers in infancy?
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Which practice is shown to help self-critical individuals take pride in their achievements?
Which practice is shown to help self-critical individuals take pride in their achievements?
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Flashcards
Social Processing & Compassion
Social Processing & Compassion
The ability to understand and respond to others' needs, including recognizing and managing guilt, is crucial for healthy relationships and cultivating compassion.
Empathy Variation
Empathy Variation
People differ significantly in their capacity for empathy, influenced by genetics, cognitive skills (like mentalizing), and personality traits (like agreeableness).
Social Signals & Challenges
Social Signals & Challenges
Difficulties processing social cues can hinder social interactions, as seen in individuals with conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Psychopathic Social Skills
Psychopathic Social Skills
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Care-Seeking Motives
Care-Seeking Motives
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Early Care Impacts
Early Care Impacts
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Responding to Care
Responding to Care
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Attachment & Closeness
Attachment & Closeness
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Caring Mentality
Caring Mentality
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Care-giving Mentality
Care-giving Mentality
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Cooperation Mentality
Cooperation Mentality
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Competitive Mentality
Competitive Mentality
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Threat/Fear
Threat/Fear
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Sexual Mentality
Sexual Mentality
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Input from others
Input from others
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Unavailable Others
Unavailable Others
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Common Humanity
Common Humanity
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Personal Loneliness
Personal Loneliness
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Social Loneliness
Social Loneliness
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Loneliness vs. Solitude
Loneliness vs. Solitude
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CFT Focus
CFT Focus
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Suffering's Alleviation
Suffering's Alleviation
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Evolutionary Social Processes
Evolutionary Social Processes
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Human Separateness
Human Separateness
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Compassion induction
Compassion induction
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Pride induction
Pride induction
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Self-compassion
Self-compassion
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Attachment theory
Attachment theory
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Extended caring
Extended caring
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Intersubjectivity
Intersubjectivity
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Prosocial behavior
Prosocial behavior
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Brain system activation
Brain system activation
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Self-Criticism & Shame
Self-Criticism & Shame
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Threat System vs. Compassion
Threat System vs. Compassion
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CFT: Working with Shame & Self-Criticism
CFT: Working with Shame & Self-Criticism
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Emotional Experiences & Compassion
Emotional Experiences & Compassion
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Chair Work in CFT
Chair Work in CFT
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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
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Compassionate Self
Compassionate Self
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Cultivating Compassion
Cultivating Compassion
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Compassionate Behaviors
Compassionate Behaviors
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De-shaming and De-personalizing
De-shaming and De-personalizing
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Tricky Brain
Tricky Brain
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Affect Regulation
Affect Regulation
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Compassionate Motivation
Compassionate Motivation
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Study Notes
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
- Rooted in evolutionary and functional analysis of basic social and emotional systems
- Evolved brain potentially problematic due to destructive behaviors and mental health issues
- Evolved motives and emotions for affiliative, caring, and altruistic behavior can offset destructive potential
- Develops inner compassion as a way to organize the 'tricky brain' prosocially and healthily
Practitioner Points
- Human brain highly evolved for social processing and this is increasingly integrated into psychotherapy
- Social roles (status, belonging, care) regulate emotion and regulate self
- Many difficulties rooted in relational problems with feeling cared for, and feeling cared for in turn
- Helping clients in social relational areas can effectively address mood issues, behaviour problems, and shame/self-criticism
- Our understanding of our origins helps in tackling the challenges of being human
Evolutionary Functional Analysis (EFA)
- Human brain product of evolution, thus many mental health problems are also products of evolution
- Human brain evolved for social processing, highly choreographed relationships crucial to mental health
- Compassion can improve physiological and psychological well-being, including in people with severe mental illness
- Motivational systems (e.g., competition, cooperation, caring) are implicated in mental health issues
Motivational Systems for Interpersonal Relating
- Competition/social ranking: Motivations for resources, territory, social status involve monitoring strengths/weakness and intentions of others
- Cooperation/sharing: Evolved motives to be part of a group, promoting belonging and contribution to others. Starts in early childhood.
- Caring/nurturing: Motivations related to care for others, and a desire to relieve others' distress. Closely linked to empathic and theory-of-mind competencies
- Seeking and responding to care: Humans seek out care from others due to the immense benefits of receiving support and encouragement from others
Evolutionary Functional Analysis (EFA)
- Describes evolutionary functions of various emotional systems, in different contexts
- Provides insight into the functions of various 'meaning-making' archetypes, defensive strategies, and mental health therapies
- Adapted and integrated concepts to suggest social mentalities, distinguishing between social and non-social motivations
- Processes like social mentality is more complex than predator-prey interaction, and is important in understanding interactions and developing social competencies and abilities
Emotion Systems and Compassion
- Emotions are unique from motives, providing moment-by-moment feedback in relationships, impacting motivation and action
- Threat-protection system: Anger, anxiety, and disgust—identifying and reacting to threats; 'negativity bias' a prevalent feature
- Positive affect systems: Joy, excitement—related to seeking and achieving; can become problematic when seeking is excessive
- Contentment system: Calming, resting, and contentment—important, yet often overlooked—leads to feeling safe, peaceful, and content.
Compassion Focused Therapy Core Features
- Provides tools to engage with suffering without rumination
- Compassion is not a weakness, but a way to build courage and take responsibility in changing stressful situations
- Addresses issues of the 'tricky brain’ which may cause self-criticism and feelings of being unworthy or unloved which are related to shame
- Identifies, cultivates, and integrates affiliative motives, emotions, and skills associated with a compassionate self, enabling greater well-being
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