Research paper
Neff KD. Self-Compassion: An Alternative Conceptualization of a Healthy Attitude Toward Oneself. Self and Identity. 2003 Apr;2(2):85-101. doi:10.1080/15298860309032
Why we cite it
The foundational theoretical paper defining self-compassion as a psychological construct for Western research. First to formally articulate the three-component model (self-kindness vs self-judgment, common humanity vs isolation, mindfulness vs over-identification), distinguish self-compassion from both self-esteem and self-pity, and argue for its superiority over self-esteem as a framework for healthy self-attitudes. Draws on Buddhist philosophy and connects self-compassion to humanistic psychology (Rogers' unconditional positive regard, Maslow's B-perception, Ellis' unconditional self-acceptance) and emotional regulation research. The paper is theoretical rather than empirical — Neff notes that empirical research was underway. With approximately 4,900 Semantic Scholar citations, this is among the most cited papers in positive psychology. Referenced by 1 k-file and 2 companions.