Self-compassion manipulation regulates affect and aggressive inclinations in the context of social rejection

Three studies (combined N = 1035) tested whether inducing a self-compassionate state of mind would help people regulate affect and aggressive inclinations toward rejecters. State self-compassion, negative affect, and pin counts in the voodoo doll task were assessed across all the studies, positive affect was assessed in Studies 2 and 3, and calm affect and revenge intention were assessed in Study 3. Compared with those in the control condition, participants in the self-compassion condition reported higher levels of state self-compassion (Studies 1 to 3), positive affect (Studies 2 and 3), and calm affect (Study 3), and lower levels of negative affect (Studies 1 to 3) and revenge intention (Study 3). A mini meta-analysis showed that participants in the self-compassion condition selected fewer pins to stab into a voodoo doll. Mediation analyses further suggested that negative affect and calm affect played mediator roles in the association between self-compassion manipulation and aggressive inclinations. • Self-compassion manipulation increases self-compassion in the context of social rejection. • Self-compassion manipulation increases positive affect and calm affect. • Self-compassion manipulation decreases negative affect and aggressive inclinations. • Soothing negative affect by self-compassion helps people stop becoming aggressive.