Self-Attitudes Lab

04/15/2017

Learning to forgive myself is the way to show my son how to be okay with his own feelings.

03/19/2017

Examining social support and given social support on self-reassurance in a daily diary context. A study investigating compassion and social mentality theory, read it here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310593791_Receiving_support_giving_support_and_self-reassurance_A_daily_diary_test_of_social_mentality_theory

Social mentality theory suggests that the ability to be reassuring and compassionate to oneself relies on evolved systems of care-seeking and caregiving with others. Using a daily diary...

01/13/2017

A common misconception is that self-compassion and self-esteem are the same. In this article, psychology professor at the University of Texas Kristen Neff differentiates between the two and explains how we can boost compassion for ourselves.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/05/why-self-compassion-works-better-than-self-esteem/481473/

Trying to boost your own ego is largely pointless. Here's what works better.

12/24/2016

Studies have shown many benefits of mindfulness. New research suggests practicing mindfulness may help curb overspending and ease stress during the holidays.

12/08/2016

11/30/2016

New study suggests anorexia nervosa may be better explained as pleasure of thinness, rather than fear of gaining weight.

Anorexia nervosa might not be explained by fear of gaining weight, but by the pleasure of losing it, say researchers, adding that the phenomenon might be genetically influenced. The work challenges the notion of fear of weight gain in anorexia patients.

10/26/2016

10/19/2016

A study conducted by Janet Liechty at the University of Illinois finds aspects of body-related self-concepts to be "influenced by family socialization processes beginning as early as preschool."

Preschoolers may express awareness about body-image issues -- but their parents may miss opportunities to promote positive body-image formation in their children because parents believe them to be too young to have these concerns, new research suggests.
University of Illinois eating disorders and bo...

10/19/2016

"When positive affirmations and messages about self-love fall short and shame seems to be winning out, self-compassion can offer hope."

Shame is a powerful emotion and may be experienced when recovering from an eating disorder. When shame seems to be winning, counter with self-compassion.

09/29/2016

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels," the iconic supermodel Kate Moss once famously said, presumably suggesting that no indulgence is worth the damage it does to a slim figure.

09/13/2016

A study conducted by Dr. Kelly & Dr. Tasca found a patient's eating pathology to be more severe following periods of increased shame. Moreover, levels of shame decreased following periods of increased self-compassion or decreased eating pathology. Read it here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eat.22527/epdf

08/14/2016

Young adults who engage in this behavior the most could be at a higher risk of developing eating disorders and body image problems, according to new research.