The Role of Perspective Taking and Alexithymia in Associations Between Shame, Guilt, and Social Anxiety

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-300
Author(s):  
Frida Cheok ◽  
Michael Proeve
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Cognitive Constructs ◽  
External Shame ◽  
Shame Proneness

The present study expanded previous research concerning relationships between shame, guilt, and social anxiety by examining both internal and external shame and exploring the role of two cognitive constructs relating to emotion regulation, perspective taking, and alexithymia. Findings were consistent with the literature regarding positive associations between shame and social anxiety and no relationship between guilt and social anxiety. Perspective taking was positively related to guilt, while alexithymia was positively related to both shame types. Social anxiety was predicted by shame-proneness, external shame, and alexithymia. There were also small indirect effects for both types of shame on social anxiety through alexithymia. Further replication of relationships between shame, alexithymia, and social anxiety is needed. Alexithymia, with and without concurrent shame, has implications for therapeutic interventions for social anxiety as it may represent a barrier to implementing conventional therapies.

The Role of Shame in the Relation Between Peer Victimization and Mental Health Outcomes

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Irwin ◽  
Joyce Li ◽  
Wendy Craig ◽  
Tom Hollenstein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Peer Victimization ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Shame Proneness ◽  
Bodily Shame ◽  
Mediation Models

Youth who experience peer victimization are at risk of developing mental health problems. However, little is known about the emotional causal mechanisms linking peer victimization with these negative outcomes. This study investigated whether shame mediated this relationship. At three time points (T1-T3), 396 10- to 13-year-olds completed measures of peer victimization, shame (characterological, bodily, and behavioral; shame proneness), and mental health (depression, social anxiety, and externalizing behavior). Three multiple mediation models tested the indirect effects of T1 victimization on T3 mental health through the four T2 shame-related variables. Analyses revealed indirect effects for the shame-related mediators on depression, social anxiety, and externalizing behaviors. Specifically, indirect positive effects for characterological and bodily shame on depression and social anxiety were found, with greater bodily shame linked to higher levels of social anxiety in girls but not boys. In addition, an indirect negative effect for behavioral shame on externalizing problems was found, with higher levels of externalizing problems in victimized boys but not in girls. Finally, an indirect positive effect for shame proneness and externalizing problems was found. To clarify the directionality, three additional mediation models were run with mental health symptoms as predictors of shame and subsequent victimization. Indirect effects for the shame-related mediators were found for all outcomes, specifically bodily shame and shame proneness as mediators between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and victimization. These three models were compared and contrasted with the hypothesized models. In sum, findings support the role of shame as an underlying emotional mechanism of peer victimization, and may guide intervention programs to address the mental health concerns of victimized youth.

scholarly journals Exploring Drive for Thinness as a Perfectionistic Strategy to Escape from Shame Experiences

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Ferreira ◽  
Inês A. Trindade ◽  
Luísa Ornelas
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Drive For Thinness ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Eating Psychopathology ◽  
The Public ◽  
External Shame ◽  
Mediational Role ◽  
Significant Mediator

AbstractPerfectionistic self-presentation defines the attempt at presenting the self as perfect through the public concealment of personal defects and/or through the display of attributes perceived as capable to gather positive attention of others. Although perfectionism has long been considered a central aspect of eating psychopathology mediational studies between this construct and these conditions are scarce. This study aimed at examining the mediational role of body image-related perfectionistic self-presentation in the effects of external shame and internal shame on drive for thinness, in a sample of young women. Results revealed body image-related perfectionistic self-presentation as a significant mediator (p < .05) of the relationships between external and internal shame, and drive for thinness. Furthermore, 86% and 69% of the effects of external shame and internal shame, respectively, were explained by their indirect effects through body image-related perfectionistic self-presentation on drive for thinness (95% CI). These results highlight that the control over eating may emerge as a maladaptive strategy to deal with shame when mediated by an endorsement in the belief that presenting a perfect body image is crucial to be accepted and valued by others. Study findings suggest that this perfectionistic strategy should be targeted while treating eating psychopathology.

Pathways to social anxiety: The role of reinforcement sensitivities and emotion regulation

2014 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 915-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie J. O’Connor ◽  
Petra K. Staiger ◽  
Nicolas Kambouropoulos ◽  
Luke D. Smillie
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Social Anxiety
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