Negative Self-evaluation and Withdrawal Behaviour Tendency in Shame: A replication study

Abstract

Negative self-evaluation (NSE) tendency and withdrawal behaviour tendency are two distinctive responses after shame experiences. While withdrawal tendency is a maladaptive aspect of shame, NSE is often considered adaptive. A major assessment of shame- and guilt-proneness, the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 (TOSCA-3), has been criticised for its conflated measure of these tendencies, whereas a newer scale, the Guilt and Shame Proneness scale (GASP), measures these tendencies separately. These two different tests have not been previously compared in a single study in relation to psychological symptoms and interpersonal traits. By replicating the GASP study, the difference between TOSCA-3 and GASP was investigated in relation to depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms and empathy in university students (N=116) via an online survey. Results revealed higher effect sizes on the TOSCA-3 for psychological symptoms than compared to the GASP. NSE was positively correlated with both psychological symptoms and empathy, while withdrawal (which was maladaptive in both conditions), was negatively correlated with interpersonal traits, and positively correlated with depressive and social anxiety symptoms. These results casts doubt on the function of NSE, demonstrating its adaptiveness in interpersonal situations while maladaptiveness in psychological functioning. Keywords: shame, negative self-evaluation tendency, withdrawal tendency, social anxiety, depression, empathy