"When most people hear the word "Stoic," they picture a stiff upper lip: bottling up emotions, keeping silent about suffering, and pretending not to care. Psychology - and clients I see showing up in my own therapy practice - suggests that this kind of suppression is harmful. But the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, practised by Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, is something quite different. It's about rationality, mindfulness, compassion, and living purposefully."
"The Stoic Attitudes and Behaviours Scale (SABS) is the first scientifically validated questionnaire to measure genuine Stoic practice. I was the lead researcher in its development, working closely with colleagues Gary Brown, Ray DiGiuseppe, Johannes Karl, Ronald Fischer, and Greg Lopez and the Modern Stoicism team. The SABS identifies seven dimensions of Stoicism: Beliefs About Control - recognising that while we cannot control events, other people or the past, our attitudes, considered thoughts and voluntary behaviours are up to us."
A validated Stoic Attitudes and Behaviours Scale (SABS) measures genuine Stoic practice across seven dimensions. Those dimensions include beliefs about control and happiness, Stoic mindfulness, virtue, and benevolence and compassion. Authentic Stoicism emphasizes rationality, mindful attention to judgments, character-based well-being, and active benevolence rather than emotion suppression. High scores on the SABS correspond with greater resilience, lower anger, and higher life satisfaction. The SABS differentiates healthy Stoic attitudes and behaviors from the harmful “stiff upper lip” model of bottling up emotions and silent suffering.
Read at Psychology Today
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