Description

The Fears of Compassion Scales (FOCS-13) are designed to assess fears related to the acceptance and expression of compassion. The scales explore concerns individuals may have about showing compassion towards themselves, others, and accepting compassion from others. They are an important tool for understanding the psychological defenses associated with feelings of compassion.

Analysis and Use of Data

Analysis:The scales are used to identify attitudes and beliefs that may hinder an individual’s ability to develop and accept compassion. They include questions that assess different dimensions of the fear of compassion.

Use of Data:Data collected from the FOCS-13 can be used to identify the barriers individuals face in developing compassion towards themselves and others. This is particularly useful in therapeutic settings and research to promote emotional well-being.

Purpose

The purpose of the FOCS-13 is to assess and understand the aspects of behavior that impede an individual’s ability to express and receive compassion. By doing so, they help identify negative beliefs and promote mental health.

Scoring

The FOCS-13 consists of questions scored on a Likert scale, typically from 1 (“Not at all”) to 5 (“Very much”). Total scores are calculated for each dimension (e.g., fear of compassion for self, fear of compassion for others). Higher scores indicate a greater fear of expressing or receiving compassion.

Bibliography

Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Matos, M., & Rivis, A. (2011). Fears of compassion: Development of three self-report measures. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 84(3), 239-255.

Kirby, J. N., Day, J., & Sagar, V. (2019). The “Fears of Compassion” scales: A comprehensive review and psychometric analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(2), 313-330.