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

Abstract

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.

Self‐criticism self‐report measures: Systematic review

“…Self‐criticism is a self‐evaluative process where individuals judge themselves in a negative or harsh way (Shahar, Szsepsenwol, et al ., ). Self‐criticism has been described as a transdiagnostic process; it is associated with a wide range of problems including depression (Luyten et al ., ), social anxiety (Shahar, Doron, & Szepsenwol, ), and eating disorders (Fennig et al ., ). Since self‐critical individuals have poorer outcomes after depression treatment (Marshall, Zuroff, McBride, & Bagby, ; Rector, Bagby, Segal, Joffe, & Levitt, ), research has begun to focus on treatments specifically targeting self‐criticism (see Kannan & Levitt, for a review, as well as Shahar et al ., ; Shahar, Szsepsenwol, et al ., , e.g., treatment studies).…”

Are shame and self‐criticism the path to the pervasive effect of social stress reactivity on social functioning in psychosis?

“…Concerning the sequential roles of shame and self-criticism, according to the theoretical accounts described above and empirical research (e.g., Shahar, Doron, & Szepsenwol, 2014), self-criticism usually functions as a coping mechanism to cope with feelings of shame-a safety strategy focused on the self (in order to maintain the self-others connection, thus avoiding rejection/exclusion) that in turn leads to unintended consequences such as exacerbation of symptoms (including shame) and social isolation. In the present study, we aimed at exploring the associations between external shame, self-criticism, social stress reactivity, and social functioning in a sample of people with a psychotic disorder.…”

“…Social stress reactivity is conceptualized as an independent variable because it concerns a pre-existing vulnerability arising from a hyperactive threat system influenced by more distal factors (such as genetic, familial, and early experiences). Concerning the sequential roles of shame and self-criticism, according to the theoretical accounts described above and empirical research (e.g., Shahar, Doron, & Szepsenwol, 2014), self-criticism usually functions as a coping mechanism to cope with feelings of shame-a safety strategy focused on the self (in order to maintain the self-others connection, thus avoiding rejection/exclusion) that in turn leads to unintended consequences such as exacerbation of symptoms (including shame) and social isolation.…”

Shame's a Pain: Exploring Links Between Shame-Proneness, Aggression, and Perfectionism

“…As anticipated, BIS demonstrated positive correlations with FNE, SCR, and SPP (Fee & Tangney, 2000;Joireman, 2004;Shahar et al, 2015). Furthermore, results of the moderated serial mediation analysis indicated that BIS sensitivity significantly moderated the indirect effect of shame on SPP through FNE and SCR.…”

“…Indeed, self-criticism has been posited to serve as a defensive response to shame, intended to discourage the shamed-individual from engaging in social risks that may further damage their social standing (Gilbert, 1998;Gilbert & Irons, 2005). In support of this notion, Shahar, Doron, and Szepsenwol (2015) found that a history of childhood maltreatment predicted higher shame-proneness, which in turn predicted increased self-criticism. In turn, higher levels of self-criticism predicted higher levels of social anxiety.…”