Fears of compassion differentially relate to recognition of positive emotions in others after inductions of loving-kindness or muscle relaxation: a study among highly socially anxious young adults.

Among highly socially anxious young adults, higher fears of compassion were linked to poorer recognition of others' positive emotions after a brief relaxation exercise, but to better recognition after a brief loving-kindness meditation. No such interaction appeared for negative emotion recognition. Greater fear of expressing compassion was associated with more frequent negative labeling of positive emotional stimuli in the relaxation group, whereas this relation was virtually absent in the loving-kindness group. Loving-kindness inductions may temporarily reduce negative interpretation biases and improve perception of positive social signals in socially anxious individuals, especially those with heightened fears of compassion.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterised by heightened fears of negative and positive evaluation, which may contribute to deficits in emotion recognition and social functioning. This study examined the relationship between trait fears of compassion (FOCs) and accuracy in emotion recognition, following a brief Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) versus Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Highly socially anxious young adults (n = 77; 86% women; 75% White/Caucasian) were randomised to either a LKM or PMR induction before completing the Geneva Emotion Recognition Task, which assesses recognition of others' emotions via dynamic stimuli. Results indicated that higher FOCs related to poorer recognition of others' positive emotions following PMR, but to better recognition following a LKM. There were no significant interaction effects for negative emotion recognition. Also, greater fear of expressing compassion was related to more frequent negative labelling of positive stimuli in the PMR group, but there was virtually no relation between these variables in the LKM group. These findings suggest that loving-kindness inductions may, at least temporarily, mitigate negative interpretation biases and enhance social positivity perception in socially anxious individuals, particularly those with heightened fears of compassion. These results also inform possible mechanisms of action of LKM as a longer-term intervention for SAD.