The Effects Of Unfairness On Selfish Behavior:The Moderating Role Of Self-compassion

Selfishness is a kind of self-interest that violates fairness and damages the interests of others,and selfish behavior is the main form of individual selfishness.In reality,selfish behaviors are usually shown by satisfying one's own selfish desire at the expense of legitimate rights and interests of the object,and its harmfulness is obvious.Through literature review,it is found that some researchers have revealed the relationship between the unfairness and selfish behavior,that is,individuals will commit more selfish intentions and behaviors if they encounter unfair treatments.Self-compassion,as a positive factor,can effectively help individuals cope with negative life events and alleviate the negative effects of these events.There is no empirical research to support whether self-compassion can mitigate selfish intentions and behaviors caused by individual unfairness.Therefore,this study attempts to examine the effects of self-compassion to college student's selfish behaviors after experiencing unfair events through two experiments.In doing so,we hope to provide an effective strategies to reduce the individual's selfish behaviors,so as to provide a theoretical base for the mental health education of adolescents in China.This study consists of two experiments.In Study 1,we adopted a 2×2between-subject design,132 college students were selected as the research objects.Manipulating the variables of sense of unfairness through launching situational memory,participants were randomly divided into experimental group and control group.Firstly,the experimental group received the launching of unfair memories,and the control group received the launching of neutral memories.Then,the 2 groups received the selfish behavior measurement to examine the relationship of unfair sense and selfish behaviors,and the moderating effects of the traits of self-compassion to the relationshipbetween and unfairness and selfish behaviors.In Study 2,we also adopted a 2×2between-subject design,142 college students were selected as the research objects.Manipulating the variables of sense of unfairness through launching situational stories and manipulating the state of self-compassion of individuals through instructing the participants to consider unfair events in the aspects of self-kindness,common humanity,mindfulness etc.through guiding words,participants were randomly divided into the state of self-compassion intervention group and non-intervention control group to take corresponding writing tasks.Then,the 2 groups received the selfish behavior measurement to examine whether the manipulation of individual state of self-compassion could moderate the relationship between the unfairness and selfish behaviors.The conclusions of the study are as follows:(1)Individuals were more inclined to carry out selfish behaviors when they felt unfair;(2)The traits of self-compassion played a negative regulatory role between sense of unfairness and selfish behavior;the higher scores got on Self-Compassion Scale,the less his or her selfish behaviors;on the contrary,the lower scores got on Self-Compassion Scale,the more his or her selfish behaviors;(3)Through manipulating the state of self-compassion of individuals,there had significant differences in selfish behaviors of higher traits of self-compassion and lower traits of self-compassion,individuals who had the lower traits of self-compassion could effectively reduce the implementation of selfish behaviors after being intervened;however,the higher traits of self-compassion of individuals after being intervened,there was no significant difference in the implementation of selfish behaviors,were at a low level,that is,tended to be less selfish behaviors.