TY - JOUR
T1 - A model for cognitively-based compassion training
T2 - theoretical underpinnings and proposed mechanisms
AU - Ash, Marcia
AU - Harrison, Timothy
AU - Pinto, Melissa
AU - DiClemente, Ralph
AU - Negi, Lobsang Tenzin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - Across cultures and belief systems, compassion is widely considered to be beneficial for the development of personal and social wellbeing. Research indicates that compassion-training programs have broad health benefits, but how and why compassion-training programs are effective is still relatively unknown. This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings of a specific compassion-training program, CBCT® (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training), and proposes an integrative model that draws on existing health behavior constructs to identify CBCT’s core components and hypothesizes their directionality and interaction. The model includes two primary categories of skill development: (1) intrapersonal skills leading to greater resiliency, and (2) interpersonal skills leading to greater compassion. It is hypothesized that these two pathways are mutually reinforcing and both contribute to greater wellbeing. This model provides a foundation for theory-driven research on the underlying mechanisms in CBCT training. An understanding of CBCT’s mechanisms is a critical step towards optimizing and personalizing the intervention to meet the needs of specific populations.
AB - Across cultures and belief systems, compassion is widely considered to be beneficial for the development of personal and social wellbeing. Research indicates that compassion-training programs have broad health benefits, but how and why compassion-training programs are effective is still relatively unknown. This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings of a specific compassion-training program, CBCT® (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training), and proposes an integrative model that draws on existing health behavior constructs to identify CBCT’s core components and hypothesizes their directionality and interaction. The model includes two primary categories of skill development: (1) intrapersonal skills leading to greater resiliency, and (2) interpersonal skills leading to greater compassion. It is hypothesized that these two pathways are mutually reinforcing and both contribute to greater wellbeing. This model provides a foundation for theory-driven research on the underlying mechanisms in CBCT training. An understanding of CBCT’s mechanisms is a critical step towards optimizing and personalizing the intervention to meet the needs of specific populations.
KW - Compassion
KW - Contemplative practice
KW - Mechanisms of behavior change
KW - Resilience
KW - Wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076825808&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85076825808&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1057/s41285-019-00124-x
DO - 10.1057/s41285-019-00124-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85076825808
SN - 1477-8211
VL - 19
SP - 43
EP - 67
JO - Social Theory and Health
JF - Social Theory and Health
IS - 1
ER -