Abstract: Because self-esteem does not represent individual mental health, lots of researchers try to refine self-esteem or propose new constructs. One construct among others is self-compassion—a new form of self-views, which derives from the Buddhism. The authors introduce its components (i.e., self-kindness, the sense of common humanity, and mindfulness) and research methods. Then the influencing factors in terms of early experience and social culture are discussed. From the perspective of mental functioning, the review demonstrates that self-compassion can help individuals cope with the negative life events, strengthen the positive mental qualities and have an effect on the interpersonal interactions. In the end, the future trends are suggested.

Key words: self-compassion, self-esteem, mindfulness, self-view