ABSTRACT
Due to the evolution of parental attachment and the relating styles of hunter-gatherers, caring connections and relationships have come to have profound regulating properties on the human body, brain and epigenetic profiles. This chapter explores attachment theory that highlights the importance of two caring functions: secure base and safe haven. Together these provide experiences of safeness and are key functions of a compassionate mind. This means we have two threat regulation systems. One is via seeking safety by defending, avoiding, escaping or attacking the threat. This is operated through the threat system (e.g. via the amygdala and sympathetic arousal). The second is via safeness which is turning towards social support and care that offers support and soothing and regulates threat through the social safeness system (e.g. via vagal and oxytocin) pathways (Gilbert 1989, 1993). In addition social relationships can be a great source of joy. The chapter explores how early-life experiences of caring affects the maturation and organisation of these interpersonal threat and emotion regulation strategies throughout life. Individuals who have problematic early life experiences can become 1. sensitised to threat-safety concerns, 2. have limited access to the social safeness system 3, have increased sensitivity to threat in the competitive social mentality of power and social rank motives. These orientate people to either down-rank strategies associated with reduced social confidence and feeling inferior, rejectable, and self-critical, or to up-rank strategies associated with competitive narcissistic self-focus. Compassion seeks to repair, build and foster the caring social mentality to enable a healthy function of the social safeness system, the care social mentality and increase social and mental flourishing.
