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The effects of self-critical rumination on shame and stress: an experimental study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2020

Christy Milia
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
Daniel C. Kolubinski*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
Marcantonio M. Spada
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Background:

Self-critical rumination is the process of repetitively thinking about one’s past instances of failure without actively problem-solving. Shame has a central role within self-critical rumination and is accompanied by physiological changes that resemble stress responses.

Aims:

To experimentally investigate the effects of self-critical rumination on shame and stress following perceived failure.

Method:

Sixty volunteers engaged in an impossible task that resulted in guaranteed failure. Four groups, combining presence or absence of induced self-critical rumination with high or low performance expectations, were created. Self-reports were used to measure levels of shame and stress at baseline immediately after the task, as well as following a debrief on the real purpose of the study.

Results:

Participants experiencing self-critical rumination accompanied by high performance expectations reported higher levels of shame and stress, especially immediately following the impossible task. On average, members of the high-expectations groups tended to score higher on shame and stress scales. Reported levels of trait self-critical rumination were also significantly correlated with levels of shame and stress across time when controlling for group membership and baseline stress and shame, respectively.

Conclusions:

Self-critical rumination in highly evaluative circumstances increased levels of shame and stress following perceived failure. Even though highly evaluative conditions are considered a particularly strong predictor of shame and stress, they could potentially result in self-critical rumination; this matter needs to be addressed in future research.

Type
Main
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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