ABSTRACT
Compassion is feeling and acting with deep empathy and sorrow for those who suffer. It is a necessary although not sufficient ingredient of helping. This book is about helping those who themselves suffer in their effort to help others. Yet, the helper’s motivation to help is shaped, in part, by the satisfaction derived from the work of helping others. The satisfaction, labeled here as compassion satisfaction, plays a vital role in the equation of human services. This chapter chronicles the theoretical thinking that led to the expansion of the Compassion Fatigue Self Test (Figley, 1995 a, 1995b; Figley & Stamm, 1996) to the Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Test (Stamm & Figley, 1996). In many ways, it is a philosophical story with a quantitative editor. The theory of secondary or vicarious traumatization records the deleterious effects of being in harm’s way as an act of compassion. We have come to know that this saga can be heroic, tragic, or even dangerous (Brady, Guy, Poelstra, & Brokaw, 1999; 108 Figley, 1995 a, 1995 b; Follette, Polusny, & Milbeck, 1994; Ghahramanlou & Brodbeck, 2000; McCann & Pearlman, 1990; Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995; Schauben, & Frazier, 1995; Stamm, 1995, 1997, 1999). Yet, people continue to do the work set before them, and to do it well. What sustains a person to continue in the face of potential distress? Most people are glad they could help. Clearly, there is an aspect of compassion satisfaction that is compelling.
