Exploring the Relationship Between Impulsivity and Shame and Guilt-Proneness

Abstract

The emotional experience of shame is characterized by negative self-evaluations, while guilt is characterized by negative behavioral-evaluations. Previous research has found shame to be the more maladaptive of these “self-conscious” emotions due to its association with various health-risk behaviors. This study investigated the relationship between impulsivity and shame and guilt-proneness in a population of undergraduate students. Whether this relationship predicts behavioral internalization or externalization was also examined. Students from the Texas A&M Psychology subject pool completed behavioral and self-report measures of impulsivity, shame-and guilt-proneness, and behavioral tendencies. Structural equation modeling was used to determine if shame and guilt-proneness mediate relationships between impulsivity and behavioral internalization and externalization.