Comparing the Effectiveness of Group Training Based on Compassion and Choice Theory on the Sense of Shame and Level of Self-Criticism in Female High School Students

The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of training based on compassion theory and choice theory on the sense of shame and the level of self-criticism in female college students. The method of the present study is applied in terms of the objective and quasi-experimental in terms of the data collection method using a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population is all students aged 15-18 years in Karaj. In this study, conducted in the academic year 2018-2019, 45 female students were randomly selected and equally divided into two experimental groups and one control group (each group consisted of 15 subjects). One of the experimental groups received 8 sessions of compassion or choice theory training, while the control group did not participate in the intervention. Subjects were assessed using the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale (GASP) and Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (LOSCS). Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software and multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance. The results showed that after the group training, there was a significant difference between the mean of the experimental and control groups in terms of reduction of shame and self-criticism scores. This difference was greater for the compassion training than for the choice theory training. It can be concluded that although both types of group training were able to reduce students’ shame and self-criticism scores, the compassion training was more effective than the choice theory training.