Comparing compassion across cultures: similarities and differences among Australians and Singaporeans

Objectives: Compassion, a social mentality, is shaped by social context. Social roles may facilitate or hinder compassionate motivations directed to others, received from others, or expressed to oneself. As such, cultural differences may emerge in compassion competencies and fears of compassion. However, current research has been limited in understanding such cultural differences in compassion competencies and fears of compassion, and the relationships among them. The current study aimed to explore cultural differences between Australians (as an example of a loose/individualistic culture) and Singaporeans (as an example of a tight-collectivist culture) on compassion competencies and fears of compassion, and whether the relationships between compassion competencies and fears of compassion, and the relationships between compassion variables and psychological outcomes, differ. Method: In a cross-sectional design, a total of 435 participants took part in this study, were allocated to their self-identified culture (Australians and Singaporeans), and completed self-report measures of compassion competencies, fears of compassion, psychopathology and positive affect. Results: There were significant differences on compassion competencies and fears of compassion between Australians and Singaporeans. There were also significant differences between Australians and Singaporeans in the inter-correlations among the flows of compassion and fears of compassion, however the relationships between the compassion variables and psychological outcomes did not significantly differ across culture in general. Conclusions: Tight/collectivist cultural norms may hinder expression of compassion towards others, but may facilitate increased self-compassion as compared to loose cultural norms. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed