The self-compassion research lab is directed by Dr.
Kristin Neff and includes several graduate students from the Educational
Psychology Department at the University of Texas at Austin. We currently
have several on-going research studies on self-compassion. Current
projects include:
Kristin Neff
Associate Professor
Chair, Human Development Area
Educational Psychology Department
University of Texas at Austin
kristin.neff@mail.utexas.edu
Kristin studied communications as an undergraduate at the University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1988). She did her graduate work at University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D., 1997), studying moral development with Dr. Elliot Turiel. Her dissertation research was conducted in Mysore, India, where she examined children’s, adolescents’ and adults’ reasoning about the rights and responsibilities accorded to husbands versus wives in conflict situations. She then spent two years of post-doctoral study with Dr. Susan Harter at Denver University, studying issues of authenticity and self-concept development. Her current position at the University of Texas at Austin started in 1999, and she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2006.
During Kristin’s last year of graduate school she became interested in Buddhism, and has been practicing meditation in the Insight Meditation tradition since 1997. While doing her post-doctoral work with Susan Harter, she decided to conduct research on self-compassion – a central construct in Buddhist psychology and one that had not yet been examined empirically.
Although Kristin does have other areas of research interest, including issues of gender, power, culture, and authenticity, her main research focus is now on self-compassion – both basic research and also potential intervention applications.
Kristin lives in the countryside in Elgin, Texas with her husband Rupert Isaacson – an author and human rights activist – and with her young son Rowan.
Graduate student researchers:
Lindsay Lamb
Graduate Student, Human Development
Educational Psychology Department
llamb@mail.utexas.edu
Lindsay studied psychology and women’s studies as an undergraduate at Saint Mary’s College of California (2003). While at Saint Mary’s she worked in the Women’s Resource Center with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and also studied the effects of Eating Disorders among Latinos/as. She is currently working towards her doctorate in Human Development in the Educational Psychology Department at UT Austin. Lindsay’s research interests include the connections between gender, bullying and self-compassion. Lindsay enjoys taking dance classes, practicing yoga, and hanging out with her friends.
Pittman McGehee
Graduate Student, Counseling Psychology
Educational Psychology Department
pittman.mcgehee@mail.utexas.edu
Pittman has a M.Ed. in Counseling from UT Austin and a M.A. in Religion from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. He is currently working as high school counselor while also being enrolled in the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology at UT Austin. Pittman is interested in the relationship between Buddhism and western psychology, specifically in the constructs of mindfulness and self-compassion. He has been examining self-compassion among adolescents, and hopes to design a self-compassion intervention for this age group. Pittman is married (and a new father!), and has been a practicing Buddhist in the Insight Meditation tradition for several years.
Elizabeth Pommier
Graduate Student, Human Development
Educational Psychology Department
elizabeth.pommier@mail.utexas.edu
Liz studied philosophy as an undergraduate at Knox College and completed her degree in 1992. She worked for several years including a two year tour of service in Peace Corps serving in Guinea-Bissau before continuing her education. In 2000 she completed a degree in Counselor Education at Penn State. Currently, she is working towards a doctorate in Human Development in Educational Psychology at UT Austin. Liz is interested in the possible benefits of self-compassion to social anxiety. Liz enjoys watching movies, reading, and spending time with friends.
Kuan Yi Chen
Graduate Student, Human Development
Educational Psychology Department
kuanyi@mail.utexas.edu
Kuan-yi has a M.A. in Educational Psychology from UT Austin. She is currently in the doctoral program in the Department of Educational Psychology at UT Austin. Kuan-yi likes to play the piano, cook, and play computer games. Kuan-yi’s research invests are mother-child interactions, and the connections between culture, relationship development, and self-compassion.
- Self-compassion and problem drinking
- Self-compassion and relationship interactions
- Self-compassion among adolescents
- School-based interventions to increase self-compassion among adolescents
- Self-compassion and public speaking anxiety
Kristin Neff
Associate Professor
Chair, Human Development Area
Educational Psychology Department
University of Texas at Austin
kristin.neff@mail.utexas.edu
Kristin studied communications as an undergraduate at the University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1988). She did her graduate work at University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D., 1997), studying moral development with Dr. Elliot Turiel. Her dissertation research was conducted in Mysore, India, where she examined children’s, adolescents’ and adults’ reasoning about the rights and responsibilities accorded to husbands versus wives in conflict situations. She then spent two years of post-doctoral study with Dr. Susan Harter at Denver University, studying issues of authenticity and self-concept development. Her current position at the University of Texas at Austin started in 1999, and she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2006.
During Kristin’s last year of graduate school she became interested in Buddhism, and has been practicing meditation in the Insight Meditation tradition since 1997. While doing her post-doctoral work with Susan Harter, she decided to conduct research on self-compassion – a central construct in Buddhist psychology and one that had not yet been examined empirically.
Although Kristin does have other areas of research interest, including issues of gender, power, culture, and authenticity, her main research focus is now on self-compassion – both basic research and also potential intervention applications.
Kristin lives in the countryside in Elgin, Texas with her husband Rupert Isaacson – an author and human rights activist – and with her young son Rowan.
Graduate student researchers:
Lindsay Lamb
Graduate Student, Human Development
Educational Psychology Department
llamb@mail.utexas.edu
Lindsay studied psychology and women’s studies as an undergraduate at Saint Mary’s College of California (2003). While at Saint Mary’s she worked in the Women’s Resource Center with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and also studied the effects of Eating Disorders among Latinos/as. She is currently working towards her doctorate in Human Development in the Educational Psychology Department at UT Austin. Lindsay’s research interests include the connections between gender, bullying and self-compassion. Lindsay enjoys taking dance classes, practicing yoga, and hanging out with her friends.
Pittman McGehee
Graduate Student, Counseling Psychology
Educational Psychology Department
pittman.mcgehee@mail.utexas.edu
Pittman has a M.Ed. in Counseling from UT Austin and a M.A. in Religion from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. He is currently working as high school counselor while also being enrolled in the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology at UT Austin. Pittman is interested in the relationship between Buddhism and western psychology, specifically in the constructs of mindfulness and self-compassion. He has been examining self-compassion among adolescents, and hopes to design a self-compassion intervention for this age group. Pittman is married (and a new father!), and has been a practicing Buddhist in the Insight Meditation tradition for several years.
Elizabeth Pommier
Graduate Student, Human Development
Educational Psychology Department
elizabeth.pommier@mail.utexas.edu
Liz studied philosophy as an undergraduate at Knox College and completed her degree in 1992. She worked for several years including a two year tour of service in Peace Corps serving in Guinea-Bissau before continuing her education. In 2000 she completed a degree in Counselor Education at Penn State. Currently, she is working towards a doctorate in Human Development in Educational Psychology at UT Austin. Liz is interested in the possible benefits of self-compassion to social anxiety. Liz enjoys watching movies, reading, and spending time with friends.
Kuan Yi Chen
Graduate Student, Human Development
Educational Psychology Department
kuanyi@mail.utexas.edu
Kuan-yi has a M.A. in Educational Psychology from UT Austin. She is currently in the doctoral program in the Department of Educational Psychology at UT Austin. Kuan-yi likes to play the piano, cook, and play computer games. Kuan-yi’s research invests are mother-child interactions, and the connections between culture, relationship development, and self-compassion.