1. Self Compassion
• Identity Threat
• and Self-Compassion
Adressing Identity Threat
with Self-Compassion
Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
2. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Identity is:
the stories
that we hold
about ourselves,
stories shaped by
family, society and culture.
We enact our identity.
Identity Threat
3. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Identity Threat
You can feel a threat
response when…
you perceive that a
situation threatens
your identity story.
4. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Identity Threat
Three common
Identity Threat
triggers:
Am I lovable?
Am I competent?
Am I a good person?
5. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Identity threat responses:
denial
exaggeration
self-criticism
confusion
isolation/withdrawal
A perceived threat to one’s identity
will trigger the same physiological
stress response as a threat to life.
6. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Stereotype Threat is a kind of
Identity threat.
It involves a threat to one of
our social identities, e.g. role,
gender, race, ethnicity,
SES/class, sexual orientation,
ability, religion.
Stereotype Threat
7. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
“The tendency to expect,
perceive, and be influenced by
negative stereotypes about one's
social category”
Claude Steele
Stereotype Threat
8. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Any social identity group can experience it.
One is most vulnerable when perceiving that task
performance is important.
Stereotype threat is often unconscious.
Source: Claude Steele
Stereotype Threat
9. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
• In the environment, the presence of:
• People
• Words
• Clothing
• Sounds
• Artifacts
• Food
Source: Claude Steele
How is Identity/Stereotype Threat
triggered?
10. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
•Anxiety up
•Heart rate up
•Blood pressure up
•Task Performance down
Source: Claude Steele
Identity/Stereotype Threat Effects
11. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
What insights about Identity/Stereotype
Threat do you have?
Being a leader with your social identities,
how do you experience triggers in your
environment?
Inquiry
12. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Self Compassion
Identity Threat
and Self-Compassion
Antidotes to
Identity/Stereotype
Threat
13. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Moving from
Threat Response to Self-Compassion
image credit: Emma Seppala
14. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Mindfulness
“I am
Suffering”
Common
Humanity
“Others feel
this too”
Self-
kindness
Act kindly
to self
+ +
Self-Compassion: A Three
Component Model
Dr. Kristin Neff
15. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
When you are in a difficult situation…
1. “I feel ____. There is suffering
here.” (Mindfulness)
2. “Suffering is part of life. I’m not
alone.” (Common humanity)
3. Say or do something kind for
yourself (Self-Kindness)
Self-Compassion Protocol (Neff)
source: Kristin Neff & Chris Germer
16. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Acts of self-Kindness that
counter identity threat:
Mentorship
Being playful
Positive self narratives
17. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Benefits of Self-Compassion
Self-Regulation
Motivation
Prevention of empathy fatigue
Reduced isolation
Resilience
Increased Accountability
Shame reduction
Learning Mindset
18. Pien van den Herik, MA
Tiffany von Emmel, PhD
Reflecting on your identity, how do you
want to see yourself as a leader in the
upcoming year?
What do you want to do differently?
Inquiry