The three circle model of compassion focused therapy: An experimental paradigm to assess dynamic psychophysiological changes of emotion regulation systems

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an integrated, evolutionary-informed biopsychosocial therapy model. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of CFT indicate that it is effective for a range of different clinical and non-clinical populations to improve overall mental health and wellbeing. Central to CFT is the tripartite model of emotion regulation, consisting of threat, drive, and soothing systems. The digital Three Circles Scale (d3CS), a novel measure of the tripartite model, has been validated with adults and teenagers, however, its link to physiological changes in controlled experimental conditions has not been tested. This study tests the theory-driven proposition of the d3CS in an experimental paradigm. This study recruited 88 adults aged 18-30 (M = 20.5, SD = 2.91) who completed baseline measurements of trait self-compassion, fears of compassion, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Participants then completed the experimental paradigm which included a rest, rumination, and recovery phase, as well as a compassionate imagery exercise. Across the phases, heart rate variability (HRV) was measured, and in each task the participants' d3CS ratings were assessed. Results indicated the circles moved in the predicted direction according to task, that HRV increased in response to recovery after rumination, and that the ratio of soothing dominance to threat and drive dominance shifted with changes in HRV. These data provide evidential support for the tripartite model as a key target in CFT which can be measured with the d3CS.