Morehead State University
Depressive Personality Styles, Shame, Guilt, and Protection of Self-Esteem
Institution
Morehead State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
David Olson
Abstract
This study explored the relationship between two personality dimensions proposed to confer vulnerability to depression, dependency, and self-criticism, and dispositions towards self-conscious affects as well as self-protective strategies. One hundred sixteen men and women completed questionnaires of personality orientation, shameand guilt-proneness, and self-handicapping. Bivariate correlational analyses between the personality dimensions and self-conscious affects revealed that both dependent and self-critical individuals reported greater proneness to shame and guilt and the use of self-handicapping strategies. Partial correlations involving shame and guilt and depressive personality styles indicated that dependency and self-criticism are positively related to guilt-free shame, while dependency is associated shame-free guilt. The current findings extend our knowledge of the affective and behavioral correlates of depressive personality styles and are consistent with current conceptualizations of the differential attributes of shame and guilt.
Depressive Personality Styles, Shame, Guilt, and Protection of Self-Esteem
This study explored the relationship between two personality dimensions proposed to confer vulnerability to depression, dependency, and self-criticism, and dispositions towards self-conscious affects as well as self-protective strategies. One hundred sixteen men and women completed questionnaires of personality orientation, shameand guilt-proneness, and self-handicapping. Bivariate correlational analyses between the personality dimensions and self-conscious affects revealed that both dependent and self-critical individuals reported greater proneness to shame and guilt and the use of self-handicapping strategies. Partial correlations involving shame and guilt and depressive personality styles indicated that dependency and self-criticism are positively related to guilt-free shame, while dependency is associated shame-free guilt. The current findings extend our knowledge of the affective and behavioral correlates of depressive personality styles and are consistent with current conceptualizations of the differential attributes of shame and guilt.