The Impact of Shame on the Dual Harm in Adolescents: The Role of Cognitive Flexibility

Abstract

Dual harm is a grave public health concern within the adolescent population, linked to mental disorders and extreme behaviors such as suicide. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying dual harm in adolescents are poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the role of shame in adolescent dual harm, as well as the mitigating effects of cognitive flexibility, based on the cognitive-emotional model of dual harm. This study employs two sequential experiments. Experiment 1 manipulates subjects' shame using a shame induction task, measuring dual harm with scores from the Tabasco Sauce Paradigm and Cold Pressor Test. The results reveal that compared to the control group, the intervention group exhibits higher levels of dual harm behaviors. Experiment 2 builds upon this foundation, employing the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test to measure cognitive flexibility. The results replicate those of Experiment 1 and further demonstrate that reduced cognitive flexibility exacerbates dual harm. Shame is considered to trigger dual harm, which cognitive flexibility can mitigate.