Understanding Shame-Driven Aggression: The Roles of Externalization of Blame and Hostility in Chinese Adolescents.

Background: Shame-proneness, particularly in adolescence, is a critical psychological construct linked to aggressive behavior. This study addresses the gap in understanding the specific mechanisms of this relationship within the cultural context of Chinese adolescents. Aim: The study aims to explore the mediating roles of hostility and externalization of blame in the connection between shame-proneness and aggression among Chinese adolescents. Methods: A comprehensive sample of 1489 Chinese adolescents participated in the study. They completed the Test of Self-Conscious Affect for Adolescents to assess shame-proneness and an aggression questionnaire to measure aggressive behaviors. The study utilized network analysis and mediational analysis, to unravel the complex interactions between shame-proneness, externalization of blame, hostility, anger, and aggression. Results: The results identified two distinct pathways linking shame-proneness to aggression: one mediated by hostility and the other by externalization of blame. The pathway via hostility was particularly pronounced, marking it as a central node in the shame-aggression relationship. Interestingly, the study also revealed a direct, though less pronounced, inhibitory effect of shame-proneness on aggression, indicating a dualistic role of shame in adolescent behavior. These findings were consistent across different demographic subgroups, suggesting a generalizable pattern in the studied population. Conclusion: The dual nature of shame-proneness, as both an inhibitor and a facilitator of aggression, underscores the need for culturally sensitive approaches in psychological interventions and future research. The central role of hostility in this relationship points to potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating aggression in adolescents.

Longitudinal association of mindfulness with aggression and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence: The mediating role of shame-proneness.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the longitudinal association of facets of mindfulness with aggression and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents and to explore whether shame-proneness can mediate the longitudinal association. The present longitudinal study investigated the associations between mindfulness, aggression, and NSSI in a sample of 706 Chinese adolescents (M = 15.33; SD = 1.34; 50.20% girls). Five facet mindfulness questionnaire was completed at baseline and middle school students' shame scale was completed at 6-month follow-up. The Chinese version of Buss-Perry aggression questionnaire and adolescents' self-harm scale were completed at both baseline and 6-month follow-up. Shame-proneness significantly mediated the longitudinal association between (a) describing and aggression (-0.107, 95% CI: [-0.151 to -0.067]), and NSSI (-0.041, 95% CI: [-0.069 to -0.019]). (b) Acting with awareness and aggression (-0.094, 95% CI: [-0.139 to -0.061]), and NSSI (-0.036, 95% CI: [-0.062 to -0.016]). (c) Nonjudging and aggression (-0.062, 95% CI: [-0.107 to -0.024]) and NSSI (-0.024, 95% CI: [-0.047 to -0.008]). Describing, acting with awareness, and nonjudging were predictive factors of aggression and self-injury in adolescents, and shame-proneness played a crucial role in the negative longitudinal association between them. Findings from the current study may offer some implications in the domains of clinical practice and education to improve mental health and further ameliorate the misbehavior among adolescents.

Excluded and ashamed: Shame proneness interacts with social exclusion and testosterone reactivity to predict behavioral aggression.

Exclusion from social relationships is a painful experience that may threaten an individual's status and dominance. The steroid hormone testosterone, which fluctuates rapidly in response to such threats, may be implicated in subsequent behavioral action (e.g., aggressive or prosocial responses) that aims to protect or enhance one's status after exclusion. Past research, however, indicates that the link between acute changes in testosterone and behavior depend on context-relevant individual dispositions. In the context of social exclusion, an individual's level of shame proneness-characterized by a tendency to experience shame and to react submissively-is theoretically relevant to the testosterone-induced aggression relationship but has yet to be examined empirically. Here, men (n = 167) were randomly assigned to be socially included or excluded in the virtual ball-tossing game, Cyberball, after which aggressive behavior was examined using the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP). Testosterone reactivity was measured via salivary hormone samples collected pre- and post-game. Moderated multiple regression analyses were run to examine the extent to which testosterone reactivity and shame proneness moderated the effect of Cyberball condition on aggression. Results revealed a significant two-way interaction between Cyberball condition and testosterone reactivity, as well as a three-way interaction including shame proneness. For individuals low in shame proneness, exclusion was associated with higher post-cyberball aggression among those who experienced a rise in testosterone but was associated with lower post-cyberball aggression among those who experienced a decrease in testosterone. For individuals high in shame proneness, however, exclusion did not meaningfully affect aggressive responses, regardless of whether they experienced an increase or decrease in testosterone. These findings extend our understanding of the moderating roles of context and disposition on the neuroendocrinology of aggression in social interaction.

A Mediation Moderation Model between Self-Evaluative Emotions and Relapse Rate among Polysubstance Users: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

A substantial portion of drug abuse research has concentrated on people with a single-substance-use disorder (SSUD), but many people abuse more than one drug. Studies have yet to examine how those with polysubstance-use disorder (PSUD) differ from those with an SSUD on the risk of relapse, self-evaluative emotions (e.g., shame and guilt), and personality factors (e.g., self-efficacy). Eleven rehab facilities in Lahore city, Pakistan were randomly chosen to provide a sample of 402 males with PSUD. For comparison, 410 age-matched males with SSUD were enlisted using a demographic form with eight questions, the State Shame and Guilt Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Mediated moderation analysis was performed using Hayes' process macro. The results demonstrate that shame-proneness is positively associated with relapse rate. Guilt-proneness mediates the relationship between shame-proneness and relapse rate. Self-efficacy buffers the influence of shame-proneness on relapse rate. Although the mediation and moderation effects were found in both study groups, these effects were significantly stronger among people with PSUD than those with SSUD. To be more specific, people with PSUD reported a higher overall score on shame, guilt, and relapse rate. Additionally, people with SSUD indicated a higher score on self-efficacy than those with PSUD. The findings of this study suggest that drug rehab facilities should implement a variety of strategies to raise drug users' levels of self-efficacy, which will help to reduce their risk of relapse.

Construction of Shame-Proneness Scale of Employee Malay People: A Study from Indonesia.

Purpose: Culture plays a role in determining how individuals interpret their experiences. In previous studies, the experience of shame has been associated with negative behavior. However, for Malays who interpret shame more positively, the experience of shame serves to inhibit negative behavior. Therefore, shame-proneness in Malays cannot be measured as it is measured in different cultures. Two studies in this research aimed to construct a measure of shame-proneness for Malays in a work context. This measuring instrument is devoted to the work context because so many situations cause shame in everyday life. By limiting the measurement of shame for employees, the conditions that arise in the measuring instrument can be more specific. Methods: In the first study, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the experience of shame in Malays. The second study used a quantitative method to construct a measuring instrument of shame that has good psychometric properties. Results: The results of in-depth interviews with nine Malay employees resulted in four indicators of shame in Malay people in the work context, namely, negative self-evaluation, withdrawal, perceiving negative evaluation from others, and motivation to change the self. In the second study, 456 Malay civil servants in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, were asked to respond to a 27-item shame-proneness scale based on these four indicators. Based on the exploratory factor analysis results, the four indicators narrowed down to three factors. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 18-item proneness scale with three factors was the best and showed acceptable goodness of fit. Conclusion: Shame-proneness scale of Malay employees scale was conducted in order to compose an instrument using a more comprehensive psychological approach. This has satisfactory psychometric properties and thus potentially measures the shame-proneness of Malay employees in Indonesia more accurately.

Shame proneness is associated with individual differences in temporal pole white matter structure.

Shame and guilt are distinct negative moral emotions, although they are usually regarded as overlapping affective experiences. Of these two emotions, shame is more closely related to concerns about other people's judgment, whereas guilt is more related to concerns about one's own judgment. Although some studies have tried to identify the psychological process underlying shame as opposed to guilt, there is no clear evidence of brain regions that are specifically relevant to the experience of shame rather than guilt and, more generally, self-blame. We therefore investigated associations between individual differences in shame- and guilt-proneness and the gray and white matter structures of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry while controlling for associations with guilt- or shame-proneness. To accomplish this goal, we enrolled 590 healthy, right-handed individuals (338 men and 252 women; age, 20.6 ± 1.8 years). We administered a questionnaire to assess shame proneness and guilt proneness. Based on our hypothesis, we found that high shame proneness was associated with decreased regional white matter density only in the right inferior temporal pole, whereas no significant region was associated with guilt. The function of this area may be important for the underlying processes differentiating shame from guilt.

A systematic review of self-report measures of generalized shame.

OBJECTIVE: Shame is a transdiagnostic emotion of strong clinical and research interest. Yet, there is a lack of consensus on the definition and varying methods employed across self-report measures, potentially affecting our ability to accurately study shame and examine whether clinical interventions to alter shame are effective. This paper offers a systematic review of self-report measures of generalized shame. METHODS: PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were searched. Studies were included when they were available in English and the primary aim was to evaluate measurement properties of scales or subscales designed to measure generalized shame in adults. RESULTS: Thirty-six papers examining 19 scales were identified, with measures of trait shame more common than state shame. Construct validity, internal consistency, and structural validity were relative strengths. Development and content validity studies were lacking and suffered from low methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS: All measures evaluated needed additional research to meet criteria for recommended use.

Shame in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizure: A narrative review.

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES) have been linked to dysregulated emotions and arousal. However, the question which emotions may be most relevant has received much less attention. In this multidisciplinary narrative review, we argue that the self-conscious emotion of shame is likely to be of particular importance for PNES. We summarize current concepts of the development of shame processing and its relationship with other emotional states. We demonstrate the potential of acute shame to cause a sudden disruption of normal cognitive function and trigger powerful behavioral, cognitive, physiological and secondary emotional responses which closely resemble key components of PNES. These responses may lead to the development of shame avoidance strategies which can become disabling in themselves. We discuss how excessive shame proneness and shame dysregulation are linked to several psychopathologies often associated with PNES (including depression and PTSD) and how they may predispose to, precipitate and perpetuate PNES disorders, not least by interacting with stigma. We consider current knowledge of the neurobiological underpinnings of shame and PNES. We explore how shame could be the link between PNES and a heterogeneous range of possible etiological factors, and how it may link historical aversive experiences with individual PNES events occurring much later and without apparent external trigger. We argue that, in view of the potential direct links between shame and PNES, the well-documented associations of shame with common comorbidities of this seizure disorder and the well-characterized relationship between chronic shame and stigma, there is a compelling case to pay greater attention to shame in relation to PNES. Its role in the treatment of patients with PNES is discussed in a separate, linked review incorporating case vignettes to highlight the complex interactions of different but interlinked shame-related issues in individual patients.

Correlates of disordered eating among gay men in Lebanon.

The present cross-sectional design study examined six factors and their associations with disordered eating among 129 Lebanese men who identified themselves as gay. The factors under study were self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, positive minority identity, and a sense of connectedness to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Nongovernmental organizations that advocate for LGBT individuals assisted in the recruitment of participants. Data were analyzed through a hierarchical multiple regression, and age, education level, socioeconomic status, and religious affiliation were controlled for. The control variables alone explained 6% of the variance, and the six variables of interest within this study explained an additional 25% after being entered into the model. Self-objectification and shame-proneness were significantly, positively related to disordered eating among the participants in this study. In contrast to prior research, body dissatisfaction was not significantly associated with disordered eating in the present study. Results of this study indicate that self-objectification and shame-proneness might be important issues to consider in clinical work with gay Lebanese men exhibiting disordered eating symptomatology.

Self-Forgiveness Among Incarcerated Individuals in Ghana: Relations With Shame- and Guilt-Proneness.

Research on the forgiveness of self has largely focused on less severe, more common types of offenses among samples within developed westernized nations. In this brief report of a study within a developing nation in Africa, applications of self-forgiveness are extended to incarcerated people. The sample comprised N = 310 males (83.87%) and females (16.13%) who were incarcerated in a medium-security Ghanaian prison (Mage = 39.35, SDage = 13.28). Participants completed measures of self-forgiveness, shame-proneness, and guilt-proneness. Prison records were examined for criminal history details. We hypothesized that self-forgiveness would correlate negatively with shame-proneness and positively with guilt-proneness. We tentatively hypothesized that this association would be moderated by offense type. Self-forgiveness correlated with both shame- and guilt-proneness in the hypothesized direction. However, neither association was moderated by type of offense. The findings offer further evidence on the salience of self-conscious emotions in forgiving oneself, particularly among incarcerated offender populations. We discuss the implications of the findings for enhancing offender rehabilitation initiatives.

Self-Evaluation and Depressive Symptoms: A Latent Variable Analysis of Self-esteem, Shame-proneness, and Self-criticism.

This paper examined the unique associations of latent self-esteem with symptoms of depression, over-and-above latent shame-proneness (study 1) and latent self-criticism (study 2), among two samples of undergraduate students. In study 1, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed convergent and discriminant validity for most measures of shame-proneness and self-esteem. Shame-proneness and self-esteem (taken separately) were strongly related to depressive symptoms. Controlling for each other, self-esteem but not shame-proneness remained associated with depressive symptoms. In study 2, CFA showed convergent validity but not discriminant validity for measures of self-criticism and low self-esteem. Self-esteem and self-criticism (taken separately) were strongly related to depressive symptoms. Controlling for each other, however, neither construct was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that (a) self-esteem and shame-proneness have good discriminant validity, (b) self-esteem is uniquely related to depressive symptoms above and beyond shame-proneness, and (c) self-report measures of self-criticism and self-esteem have poor discriminant validity.

The Associations Between Perceived Harsh and Controlling Parenting, Shame Proneness, and Psychological Aggression Among Chinese Dating Couples.

Using dyadic data from 198 dating heterosexual couples (aged 18-31) in Mainland China, the current study tested the direct associations between perceptions of their parents' harsh and controlling parenting and psychological aggression and indirect associations via shame proneness. Results demonstrated that for women, greater perceived harsh and controlling parenting was directly related to higher levels of psychological aggression and indirectly related through higher levels of shame proneness. For men, perceived harsh and controlling parenting was not related to either shame proneness or psychological aggression. These findings provide initial insights into how shame, traditionally a valued and celebrated emotion in Chinese culture, can be maladaptive by contributing to psychological aggression in young adult intimate relationships. Although these findings merit further testing, especially for men, this study provides evidence that shame is an important mechanism for psychological dating violence.

Affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in China: Effects of self-esteem, shame and family functioning.

The present study aimed to investigate affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in China and to examine the predictive effects of self-esteem, shame proneness and family functioning. Two hundred and sixty-three primary caregivers of children with autism in Mainland China participated in the survey. The results suggested that affiliate stigma in caregivers of children with autism was prevalent and severe; their depressive symptoms were significantly more severe than the national norm of the similar age group. Low self-esteem, high shame proneness and poor family adaptability were associated with experience of affiliate stigma and heightened depressive symptoms. Affiliate stigma partially mediated the links between self-esteem/ shame proneness/family adaptability and depression levels. This study was the first one to measure affiliate stigma on caregivers of children with ASD in mainland China using a quantitative method. The results highlight the necessity and importance of de-stigmatization for the caregivers of children with autism and suggest that interventions to improve self-esteem, reduce experience of shame and to enhance family functioning might be effective.

Hide and "sick": Self-concealment, shame and distress in the setting of psycho-oncology.

ABSTRACTObjective:Both trait and contextual self-concealment, as well as shame- and guilt-proneness, have previously been found to be associated with psychological distress. However, findings regarding the associations between these variables among patients with cancer and among the spouses of patients with cancer are limited. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the relationship between shame-proneness and psychological distress (anxiety and depression) by examining the mediating role of both trait and contextual self-concealment among patients with cancer and among the spouses of patients with cancer. METHOD: The current study was part of a large-scale cross-sectional study on self-concealment among patients with cancer and spouses of patients with cancer. It was based on two independent subsamples: patients with cancer and spouses of patients with cancer, who were not dyads. A total of 80 patients with cancer and 80 spouses of (other) patients with cancer completed questionnaires assessing shame- and guilt-proneness, trait and contextual self-concealment, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS: Results indicate that spouses reported both greater shame-proneness and anxiety than did patients (main effect of role). Female participants reported greater shame-proneness, higher levels of contextual self-concealment, and greater depression and anxiety than did male participants (main effect of gender). No group differences (role/gender) were found for guilt-proneness and trait self-concealment. Trait and contextual self-concealment partially mediated the relationship between shame-proneness and distress, pointing out the need to further examine additional mediators. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Findings suggest that contextual self-concealment and shame-proneness are important variables to consider when assessing distress in the setting of psycho-oncology. Study results may have significant clinical implications regarding the need to identify patients and spouses who are more prone to shame and self-concealment behavior in order to better tailor interventions for them.

Shame proneness and eating disorders: a comparison between clinical and non-clinical samples.

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between shame proneness, eating disorders outcomes and psychological aspects of patients with eating disorders (ED). METHODS: Sixty-six girls applying for inpatient treatment for ED and 110 female undergraduate students were assessed using the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 and the Shame Proneness Scale of the Test of Self-Conscious Affect. RESULTS: Shame proneness showed significant correlations with several ED components and psychological scales of EDI-3, with some variations across the subgroups. Shame proneness levels were significantly higher in the clinical group than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Shame proneness can be an important component for the development and the maintenance of ED due to a strong correlation not only with ED symptoms but also with psychological aspects of this disease, in both clinical and non-clinical samples.

The Shame and Guilt Scales of the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-Adolescent (TOSCA-A): Psychometric Properties for Responses from Children, and Measurement Invariance Across Children and Adolescents.

This study examined various psychometric properties of the items comprising the shame and guilt scales of the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-Adolescent (TOSCA-A) in a group children between 8 and 11 years of age. A total of 699 children (367 females and 332 males) completed these scales, and also measures of depression and empathy. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided support for an oblique two-factor model, with the originally proposed shame and guilt items comprising shame and guilt factors, respectively. There was good internal consistency reliability for the shame and guilt scales, with omega coefficient values of 0.77 and 0.81 for shame and guilt, respectively. Also, shame correlated with depression symptoms positively (0.34, p < 0.001) and had no relation with empathy (-0.07, ns). Guilt correlated with depression symptoms negatively (-0.28, p < 0.001), and with empathy positively (0.13. p < 0.05). Thus there was support for the convergent and discriminant validity of the shame and guilt factors. Multiple-group CFA comparing this group of children with a separate group of adolescents (320 females and 242 males), based on the chi-square difference test, supported full metric invariance, the intercept invariance of 17 of the 30 shame and guilt items, and higher latent mean scores among children for both shame and guilt. The non-equivalency for intercepts and mean scores were of small effect sizes. Comparisons based on the difference in root mean squared error of approximation values supported full measurement invariance and no group difference for latent mean scores. The findings in the current study support the use of the TOSCA-A in children and the valid comparison of scores between children and adolescents, thereby opening up the possibility of evaluating change in the TOSCA-A shame and guilt factors over these developmental age groups.

Adult Attachment and Dyadic Adjustment: The Mediating Role of Shame.

Although it is widely recognized that adult attachment is associated with romantic relationship quality, the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of external and internal shame on the association between attachment and dyadic adjustment. A battery of self-report measures was completed by 228 Portuguese participants and a serial multiple mediation model was tested. Data showed that, in the population under study, attachment dimensions were associated with worse dyadic adjustment through high external and internal shame. Internal shame alone also mediated the association between attachment avoidance and dyadic adjustment. This study identifies a new putative mechanism linking adult attachment and intimate relationship functioning that may be targeted in couples therapy to promote a better dyadic adjustment and relationship functioning.

Understanding Student Drinking Patterns: Does Shame Proneness Matter?

This study ( N = 202; mean age = 19.52 years, SD = 1.36 years; 66.5% female) analyzed three structural equation models to determine whether ruminative brooding and negative affect, moderated by shame proneness, explained college student drinking behaviors more than a model without shame proneness. Results indicated a model including shame proneness fit the data best; however, the moderated variables were not significantly associated with other variables in the retained model. Results are discussed alongside clinical recommendations within a university counseling center framework.

Childhood Maltreatment, Shame-Proneness and Self-Criticism in Social Anxiety Disorder: A Sequential Mediational Model.

UNLABELLED: Previous research has shown a robust link between emotional abuse and neglect with social anxiety symptoms. However, the mechanisms through which these links operate are less clear. We hypothesized a model in which early experiences of abuse and neglect create aversive shame states, internalized into a stable shame-based cognitive-affective schema. Self-criticism is conceptualized as a safety strategy designed to conceal flaws and prevent further experiences of shame. However, self-criticism maintains negative self-perceptions and insecurity in social situations. To provide preliminary, cross-sectional support for this model, a nonclinical community sample of 219 adults from Israel (110 females, mean age = 38.7) completed measures of childhood trauma, shame-proneness, self-criticism and social anxiety symptoms. A sequential mediational model showed that emotional abuse, but not emotional neglect, predicted shame-proneness, which in turn predicted self-criticism, which in turn predicted social anxiety symptoms. These results provide initial evidence supporting the role of shame and self-criticism in the development and maintenance of social anxiety disorder. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Previous research has shown that histories of emotional abuse and emotional neglect predict social anxiety symptoms, but the mechanisms that underlie these associations are not clear. Using psycho-evolutionary and emotion-focused perspectives, the findings of the current study suggest that shame and self-criticism play an important role in social anxiety and may mediate the link between emotional abuse and symptoms. These findings also suggest that therapeutic interventions specifically targeting shame and self-criticism should be incorporated into treatments for social anxiety, especially with socially anxious patients with abuse histories.

Shame in patients with narcissistic personality disorder.

Shame has been described as a central emotion in narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). However, there is a dearth of empirical data on shame in NPD. Patients with NPD (N=28), non-clinical controls (N=34) and individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD, N=31) completed self-report measures of state shame, shame-proneness, and guilt-proneness. Furthermore, the Implicit Association Test (IAT) was included as a measure of implicit shame, assessing implicit shame-self associations relative to anxiety-self associations. Participants with NPD reported higher levels of explicit shame than non-clinical controls, but lower levels than patients with BPD. Levels of guilt-proneness did not differ among the three study groups. The implicit shame-self associations (relative to anxiety-self associations) were significantly stronger among patients with NPD compared to nonclinical controls and BPD patients. Our findings indicate that shame is a prominent feature of NPD. Implications for diagnosis and treatment are discussed.