Cet article se penche sur les différentes conceptualisations et opérationnalisations de la compassion (pour soi et pour les autres), incluant les instruments de mesure et il souligne la nécessité d’élaborer une définition consensuelle de la compassion. À la lumière des appuis théoriques et empiriques actuelles, cet article soutient que la compassion implique des processus d’ordre affectif, cognitif, comportemental et interpersonnel. Dans des articles précédents publiés aux Annales Médico-Psychologiques (Khoury, Dionne, et Grégoire, 2019 ; Khoury, Grégoire, et Dionne, 2020), nous avons conceptualisé la pleine conscience comme étant à la fois « incarnée » et « interpersonnelle ». Prenant appui sur des études neurologiques et neurophysiologiques, cet article étend à la compassion ces deux dimensions essentielles qui sont également propres à la pleine conscience. Cette nouvelle façon de concevoir la compassion ouvre sur des perspectives nouvelles en recherche, notamment dans l’évaluation et la mesure de la compassion et a des implications dans le domaine des approches axées sur la compassion pour soi.

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. In previous papers published in the Annales Médico-Psychologiques (Khoury, Dionne, & Grégoire, 2019; Khoury, Grégoire, & Dionne, 2020), we conceptualized mindfulness as being both “embodied” and “embedded” in the interpersonal and social context. Drawing on psychological, neurological, and neurophysiological evidence, this article extends these two essential dimensions (embodied and embedded/interpersonal) to compassion for self and others.

In order to investigate the current conceptualizations, measurements, operationalizations of compassion towards self and others, we conducted a thorough qualitative review of theoretical and empirical papers pertaining to compassion from both Eastern Buddhist traditions and Western-based approaches. We put a particular emphasis on neurological and neurophysiological evidence. Different Buddhist and Western conceptualizations of compassion towards self and others are presented, critically reviewed, compared, and discussed and common affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal components are drawn from these diverse conceptualizations. In addition, assessment measures of compassion towards self and others are presented along with their psychometric qualities and limitations. Multiple compassion-based interventions and programs are also presented and discussed. The role of the body in compassion towards self and others and more specifically the bidirectional mind-body connection is highlighted through the analysis of clinical, behavioral, and neuroscientific research findings. Empirical findings supporting the embodiment of compassion are thoroughly presented and linked to the proposed conceptualization of compassion towards self and others. Finally, we discuss the implications of the new conceptualization of compassion towards self and others as well as the limitations of this conceptualization and future research directions.

Theoretical and empirical findings suggest that compassion has both top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (emotional, somatosensory) dimensions and more precisely can be an integration (convergence) of both dimensions. In addition, the physical body seems to be central in the etiology, development, and expression of compassion. Moreover, neurophysiological evidence suggests that compassion can be behaviorally reinforced. Taken together, this suggests that compassion can be viewed as embodied and can be operationalized as a cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skill/ability that involves both self and others, therefore is embedded in the interpersonal/social context. Similar to mindfulness, compassion can therefore, be considered and integrated state of mind involving emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. Mindfulness and compassion might also share neurophysiological commonalities, through the integration of top-down and bottom-up processes and the activation of specific vagal pathways as was proposed by the Polyvagal Theory. However, more research is warranted to delineate commonalities and differences between these two contemplative practices.

The new notion of embodied and embedded compassion integrates different conceptualizations of compassion by grounding compassion in common affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal processes across different conceptualizations. This notion 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 towards self and others.