The Rise of “Good Person” distress: How self-Compassion can Untangle Moral Scrupulosity
A growing number of individuals are finding themselves paralyzed by an unrelenting need to โbeโข “good,” a condition known as โmoral scrupulosity that can escalate into debilitating anxiety and obsessive behaviors. Whileโ a โstrong moral compass is generally considered a virtue,for those grapplingโ with โฃscrupulosity,it transforms into a โsource of profound distress,impacting daily life and mental wellbeing. Experts are increasingly recognizing the condition – often โขlinked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)โค – and offering strategies for managing its grip, with self-compassionโ emerging as a powerful tool.
Moral scrupulosity isn’t โคsimply about having highโ ethical standards. It’s characterized by an excessive and intrusive preoccupation with moral failings, often involving a fear of havingโ committed a sin or done something wrong, โฃeven in โฃthe absence of any objective evidence. This โcan manifest as compulsive confession, repeated apologies, or โrelentless self-criticism. โข Individuals may fixate on minor actions, interpreting them as grave โmoral offenses, and experience โnotable anxiety until they’ve performed rituals to “undo” the perceived harm.
“It’s a especiallyโค insidious form of OCD because it targets something people โคvalue – being โa good person,” explains dr. Patrick Skerrett,a clinical psychologist specializing in OCD and scrupulosity.”The irony is that the very striving for moralโ perfectionโค actually prevents them from living a fulfilling life.”
Fortunately, treatment options are โavailable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),โ particularly Exposure and Response Preventionโฃ (ERP), is considered theโค gold standardโ forโ OCD and canโ be adapted to address moral scrupulosity. However, a growing body of research highlights the benefits of incorporating self-compassion practices.
Kristin Neffโค and Chris Germer, leading researchersโฃ in the field โขof self-compassion, have developed techniquesโค to โฃcultivate kindness towardsโ oneself, recognizing that imperfection is a โคuniversal aspect ofโฃ the โฃhuman experience. Their work โhas proven particularly helpful for individuals struggling withโข scrupulosity, offering a counterpoint to theโ harsh self-judgment that fuels the cycle of anxiety. Neff and Germerโฃ also run the Center for Mindful โSelf-Compassion (https://centerformsc.org/), offering an โeight-week course designed to build a self-compassion practice.
Beyond therapeutic interventions, philosophical inquiryโค is also offeringโค new perspectives. Thomas Nagel, known for his work on consciousness, explores the role โคof religion in โproviding meaningโฃ and purpose in his essay, “Secular Philosophy โคand theโข Religious Temperament.” His work โprompts reflection on โฃhow secular โฃframeworks can address basic questions about the nature of the universe and how individuals can live ethically withinโฃ it.
Furthermore, the limitations of algorithmic solutions to ethical dilemmas are being โขdebated. Philosopher Elad Uzan, drawing on Kurt Gรถdel’s incompleteness theorems, argues inโฃ an Aeon essay (https://aeon.co/essays/what-godels-incompleteness-theorems-say-about-ai-morality) that AI โคcannot definitively solve ethical โฃproblems,as morality โขinherently contains complexities that defyโ algorithmic resolution. This underscores โthe importance of human judgment, tempered with self-awareness and compassion.
For those caughtโ in the throes of โฃmoral scrupulosity, the path to relief lies in recognizing the condition, seeking professional help, and cultivating a more compassionate relationshipโ with oneself -โ acknowledging that striving to be good doesn’t require perfection, but ratherโค a commitment โto growth, โunderstanding, and self-acceptance.