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Knowing Feeling: Affect, Script, and Psychotherapy
109 college man and 76 college women ranging in age from 17 to 50 years and having an average age of 21 yr. completed Coopersmith's Self-esteem Scale and Elison's Compass of Shame Scale which measures four shame-focused coping styles. The total Compass of Shame score was significantly correlated with the Self-esteem scores. Scores on three of the shame coping subscales, Attack Self, Withdrawal, and Attack Other, were significantly correlated with Self-esteem scores; the Avoidance subscale was not. No significant sex differences were found either on self-esteem or any of the four, shame-coping subscales. A regression model that examined the predictive associations between four subscales of shame and Self-esteem indicated that shame scores accounted for 32% of the variance in Self-esteem.
This study explored the benefits of a group-based compassion-focused therapy approach in a heterogeneous group of clients presenting with severe and enduring mental health difficulties to a community mental health team. Seven groups with an average of five clients per group were run over 12-14 weeks. The format of the group followed the procedures of explaining the evolutionary model, formulating client problems within the compassion-focused therapy model, introducing clients to the core practices of compassionate training, and using compassion based interventions to address core difficulties. Questionnaires were completed pre- and post intervention: Self-criticism, shame, depression, anxiety, and stress. Significant reductions were found for depression, anxiety, stress, self-criticism, shame, submissive behavior, and social comparison post intervention. Of importance, at pre-intervention the majority of patients were in the severe category of depression scores. At the end of therapy the majority were in the borderline category. A combination of self-report data and client feedback suggests that compassion focused therapy is easily understood, well-tolerated, seen as helpful and produces significant changes in objective measures of mental health difficulties in naturalistic settings.
109 college man and 76 college women ranging in age from 17 to 50 years and having an average age of 21 yr. completed Coopersmith's Self-esteem Scale and Elison's Compass of Shame Scale which measures four shame-focused coping styles. The total Compass of Shame score was significantly correlated with the Self-esteem scores. Scores on three of the shame coping subscales, Attack Self, Withdrawal, and Attack Other, were significantly correlated with Self-esteem scores: the Avoidance subscale was not. No significant sex differences were found either on self-esteem or any of the four, shame-coping subscales. A regression model that examined the predictive associations between four subscales of shame and Self-esteem indicated that shame scores accounted for 32% of the variance in Self-esteem.
This article provides an introduction to the concept of shame as it relates to substance misuse. Empirical research on shame and addiction and the theoretical and operational definitions that underpin them are discussed. Potential areas of further inquiry are highlighted. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Shame and Pride: Affect, Sex, and the Birth of the Self
- D L Nathanson
Nathanson
DL: Shame and Pride: Affect,
Sex, and the Birth of the Self. New York,
Norton,
1992