Abstract: Does self-compassion predict-and even promote-relatively adaptive responses to rejection? Three studies addressed this question. Self-compassion consists of three facets: self-kindness (treating oneself the way that one would treat a friend), common humanity (recognizing that all humans experience suffering), and mindfulness (maintaining balanced awareness of negative thoughts and feelings; Neff, 2003). Using an internet sample, Study 1 (N = 440) found that the relationships between perceived acceptance and negative outcome variables were weaker among people relatively high in self-compassion. Study 2 (N = 39) used a daily diary procedure and found that the relationship between perceived acceptance and positive affect was weaker among people relatively high in self-compassion. Study 3 was an experiment with three conditions: self-compassion, self-esteem, and control. Preliminary results suggest that induced self-compassion is more effective than a control condition in coping with a relived rejection experience. Taken together, results of the three studies suggest that self-compassion-either as a trait or an induced mindset-may aid in coping with rejection. __________________________________ Erika Koch, Ph.D.