Fears of compassion and happiness in relation to alexithymia, mindfulness, and self‐criticism

Abstract

While the development of positive emotions, especially those linked to affiliation and connectedness are increasingly seen as important therapeutic targets, little research has focused on the blocks and fears to positive emotions. This study used newly developed fears of positive affect scales (e.g., compassion and happiness) to explore these aspects and found they were significantly linked to psychopathology variables self-criticism and difficulties such as alexithymia.

Fears of Negative Emotions in Relation to Fears of Happiness, Compassion,Alexithymia and Psychopathology in a Depressed Population: A Preliminary Study

“…Positive emotions can be associated with negative outcomes particularly in children who have been punished at times when they have been enjoying themselves [24]. In a recent study in a student population, Gilbert et al [21] found that fear of happiness is strongly correlated with depression. Beblo et al [9] also found that fear and suppression (inhibiting the outward signs of inner feelings) of positive and negative emotions were linked to depressive symptoms.…”

“…An increasing number of studies has also found that some people can have a fear of 'positive emotions', such as feeling safeness, happiness, and affiliative emotions associated with compassion [9,[20][21][22]. Arieti and Bemporad [23] suggested that some depressed patients have what they called 'a taboo on pleasure' and are fearful of positive emotions.…”

Fears of Compassion in a Depressed Population Implication for Psychotherapy

“…Gilbert et al developed a measure of 'fears of compassion' and found them to be highly correlated to psychopathology symptoms. In a follow-up study, Gilbert et al [52] found fears of compassion to be linked to fears of happiness in general, and problems with emotional processing (alexithymia) and mindfulness. This studies of the fears of compassion to date however have been with non-clinical populations.…”

“…So it is plausible that difficulties with empathy and mentalising will also compromise compassion [52].…”

“…Self-criticism has long been linked to increased vulnerability to psychopathology [63] and poor recovery [64]. There is an important link between fears of compassion and internal feelings of hostility towards the self and self-criticism [51,52]. Self-critical individuals often struggle with standard therapies [64,65] and have become a focus for compassion focused therapy [13,14].…”