Shame and compulsive behaviours

[摘要] The area of shame, in psychology, has become increasingly popularin recent years. Despite a great richness of theoreticalliterature, there is, unfortunately, a dearth of actual researchon shame. This study has sought to empirically investigate therelationship between shame and three compulsive behaviours,namely, alcohol dependence, drug dependence and disorderedeating. Relations between shame and alcohol dependence, and shameand drug dependence have already been established in the researchliterature. This study sought to validate these relationships andto extend the research in the area to establish a link betweenshame and disordered eating. Cook's Internalised Shame Scale wasused to assimilate shame, whilst Millon's Clinical MultiaxialInventory was used to assess drug and alcohol dependence.Disordered eating was assessed by using the Eating AttitudesTest. Pearson's Product Moment Correlations were computed, andregression analyses were conducted, it was found that shame wassignificantly correlated with alcohol dependence, drug dependenceand disordered eating, and that shame predicted 33% of thevariation in alcohol dependent behaviour, 36% of the variationin drug dependent behaviour, and 30% of the variation indisordered eating.Within the methodology used it was not possible to establishcausality. However, it was possible to contextualise theseresults within the literature, and suggest possible explanations.From within the literature on shame it was suggested that shameis linked to alcohol abuse and drug abuse as well as todisordered eating, and that the relationship is one of circularcausality. Shame is consequent on these behaviours but thesebehaviours also attempt to reduce shame and are intended to beself soothing, and containing of the uncomfortable feelingsattached to an inadequate sense of self. Limitations of thestudy, and suggestions for future research were examined.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand