Compassion: Embodied and Embedded

Objectives The aim of this paper is to review current conceptualizations, assessment measures, and operationalizations of compassion towards self and others in order to propose a new theoretically grounded, empirically driven, unified notion of compassion towards self and others. Methods A thorough qualitative review of theoretical and empirical papers and books regarding compassion towards self and others was conducted with a particular emphasis on neurological and neurophysiological evidence. Results Theoretical and empirical evidence suggest that compassion should be grounded in affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal processes. Moreover, based on available neurological and neurophysiological evidence, compassion can be considered as embodied and embedded in the interpersonal and social context. Conclusions The new notion of compassion has important implications in conceptualizing and measuring compassion and in devising and validating new compassion-based interventions. Therefore, this notion should be taken in consideration in conducting future research on compassion.