Pilot studies indicate that self-compassion requires overriding habitual thinking, suggesting it may require self-control. The present study investigated the effect of depleted self-control on state self-compassion. Depleted participants were hypothesized to be less self-compassionate following failure than non-depleted participants. Trait self-compassion, measured beforehand, was expected to moderate the effect. One-hundred fifteen participants completed a difficult GRE test, a concentration task or Solitaire task, a manipulation check including a false failing GRE score, and two state self-compassion measures. The compassionate message length measure was not significantly predicted. Using the scale measure, there was a significant positive correlation with trait self-compassion. There was also an interaction between trait self-compassion and ego depletion, such that ego depletion resulted in higher state self-compassion only for those with low trait self-compassion. The positive effect of ego depletion may be due to a floor effect or distraction.

(M.A.) -- Towson University, 2014.