Compassion. Philippe Goldin University of California Davis

Transcription

1 Compassion Philippe Goldin University of California Davis

2 Just See Others

3 Compassion

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6 "I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance." Pablo Casals

7 Context Latin root com- + pati (to bear, suffer) One of the "four immeasurables" (brahmavihāras) Equanimity Love Compassion (free from suffering and its causes) Sympathetic joy Mental state or emotion? (Jazaieri et al., under review, Goldin & Jazaieri, under review; Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010)

8 Definitions sympathetic consciousness of others distress together with a desire to alleviate it (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015) "mental state - endowed with a sense of concern - that focuses on another being and wishes for that being to be relieved of suffering" (Jinpa, 2010) 3 interdependent experiential modes attentional and affective cognitive (intention and insight) physical (embodied and engaged) (Halifax, 2012)

9 Multidimensional perspective Cognitive: an awareness of suffering (cognitive/attentional component) Affective: sympathetic concern related to being emotionally moved by suffering Intention: a wish to see the relief of that suffering Motivation: a readiness to help relieve that suffering (Jinpa, 2010)

10 Neural Bases of Understanding Others Pain Cognitive perspective taking - mental representation of other; social cognition Empathy - in responses to pain, disgust, taste, and touch - emotion, sensation Hein, Singer, Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 2008

11 Imitation in Infants Meltzoff, AN, Moore MK. Imitation of facial and manual gestures by human neonates. Science, 1977;198.

12 Frontoparietal Mirror Neuron System for Imitation Observation of an action automatically triggers simulation of that action Premotor cortical neurons fire during goal-directed actions as well as during observation of similar actions Neural bases of imitation and empathy (inner imitation) Iacoboni, Dapretto, 2006, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 7, Gallese V, The manifold nature of interpersonal relations; the quest for a common mechanisms. In Frith C, ed, The Neuroscience of Social Interaction, Oxford Univ. Press, 2003

13 Just Like Me

14 Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) Stabilizing the mind Compassion Shared Humanity Active compassion giving and taking (tong-len) Integrated Practice Class structure: practice, pedagogy, experiential exercise, moistening the heart Manual written by Geshe Thupten Jinpa, PhD With contributions from: Erika Rosenberg, Ph.D. Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. Margaret Cullen, M.F.T. Philippe Goldin, Ph.D. Wiveka Ramel, Ph.D.

15 RCT of Compassion Training 100 community adults randomized to CCT (n=60) and WL (n=40) Completers CCT (n=50) and WL (n=30) Age: CCT: 42 ± 11 WL: 45 ± 13 Females: CCT: 65% WL: 83% Instructors: 16.5 ± 7.8 years personal meditation experience 9.0 ± 2.8 years meditation teaching PhD in psychology

16 Offer to other, receive from other, give to self

17 Three orientations of compassion relative to Person A (Self) For Other For Self From Other to Self

18 Improvement Pre-to-Post-CCT: Fear of Compassion Scale (FCS) & Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) Paul Gilbert * * Kristin Neff * * * p<.001

19 (minutes)

20 Daily Experience Sampling Two assessments per day 1x morning, 1x evening 11 weeks 1 week baseline 9-weeks Compassion Training 1 week post Up to 144 measurements in total per person Multilevel modeling (MLM) approach to examine change over time

21 Emotional Experience p< Anxious Calm Fatigued Alert p<.01

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23 Probability Caring Behaviors Towards Self Caring for Self Week > Overall, no sig. change from week-to-week (p>.05) > But sig. slope variance: People vary in their week-to-week caring for self (p<.01)

24 Probability Caring Behaviors Towards Others Caring for Others Week > Slightly more likely to care for others over time (1.03 times as likely). Odds increase by 3% each week. (p=.058) > Sig. slope variance: People vary in their week-to-week caring for others (p<.01)

25 p(care for Self) p(care for Others) Probability of Caring Behaviors as a Function of Meditation Practice Frequency Frequency of Practice Frequency of Practice Self-care behavior is 6.5 times more likely with greater meditation practice frequency (p<.01) Other-care behavior is 3.5 times more likely with greater meditation practice frequency (p<.01)

26 Daily anxiety mediated effect of meditation on caring behaviors Feel anxious yes / no Meditation practice yes / no Caring behavior for self / other Yes / no

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28 p(post-training Mind Wandering) Compassion Meditation Modifies Mind Wandering Pleasant Unpleasant Neutral Hours of Compassion Meditation Practice

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30 p(care for Self) Self-caring behavior is 6.5 times more likely if a person meditated (p<.01) p(meditation Practice)

31 p(care for Others) Other-caring behavior is 3.5 times more likely if a person meditated (p<.01) p(meditation Practice)

32 Weekly Experiencing Sampling

33 Anticipatory Anxiety RCT of CCT, n= Baseline Post Class 3 Mo FU

34 50 Anxiety During Social Interactions RCT of CCT, n= Baseline Post Class 3 Mo FU

35 Stress Disrupts Functioning RCT of CCT 9-sessions, n= Baseline Post Class 3 Mo FU

36 Suppress Showing Emotions RCT of CCT, n= Baseline Post Class 3 Mo FU

37 Summary of CCT Effects Compassion self, other, receiving from others practice --> self & other caring behaviors Clinical anxiety & stress Emotion Regulation maladaptive emotion expression suppression care, help, giving time to others

38 Thank you for your attention

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40 Contact: YouTube talks: Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation Neuroscience of Emotion Wisdom 2.0 Science Café SF NerdNite SF