2/5/2013
Dispelling the Myth of Compassion
Fatigue
Why compassion is actually the antidote to
caregiver burnout
Emiliana Simon-Thomas, PhD
Science Director
Greater Good Science Center
UC Berkeley
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2/5/2013
Definitions
Compassion: the feeling that arises
when you witness another’s suffering
and want to help.
Empathy: the ability to sense
other people’s emotions,
coupled with the ability to
imagine what someone else
might be thinking or feeling.
Definitions
Fatigue:
• weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or
stress
• the temporary loss of power to respond that is
induced in a sensory receptor or motor end organ
by continued stimulation
• the tendency of a material to break under
repeated stress
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Definitions
Caregiver BURNOUT: A constellation of
1) emotional exhaustion
2) detachment
3) low sense of accomplishment
A Geography of Compassion
What triggers it?
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A Geography of Compassion
Empathic beginnings
(Saxe, 2003)
(Singer, 2011)
(Morishima, 2012)
A Geography of Compassion
Thoughts from within
What’s the meaning of this feeling?
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A Geography of Compassion
Thoughts from within
A Geography of Compassion
Thoughts from within
(Beauregard, 2009 )
(Kim, 2009)
(Simon-Thomas, 2011 )
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A Geography of Compassion
Thoughts from within
A Geography of Compassion
Thoughts about others
Are they like me?
(Decety, 2009)
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A Geography of Compassion
Thoughts about what’s going on
• Do I have time/resources
to help?
• Are other people present,
and is it likely that they
will help?
A Geography of Compassion
Taking action – be heroic
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A Geography of Compassion
The afterglow
A Geography of Compassion
The afterglow
(Harbaugh, 2009)
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Remember?
Compassion?
Empathy?
BURNOUT?
BURNOUT
1. emotional exhaustion:
Compassion strengthens
coping skills
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BURNOUT
2. Detachment:
Compassion boosts
& reinforces social
connections
BURNOUT
3. Low sense of
accomplishment:
Compassionate action
lengthens your list of
meaningful
accomplishments
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Antidotes to BURNOUT
1) Be mindful of your empathic
habits/style
2) Rediscover the pleasure in
care/nurturance emotions - and in being
heroic
1) Just like me, this person wants to be
happy and to avoid suffering
THANK YOU!
Please visit us at
greatergood.berkeley.edu
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