Chronic shame may drive destructive thought patterns in abuse survivors
Adults who experienced emotional abuse in childhood often battle destructive thought patterns like rumination and emotional avoidance. A new study suggests that chronic shame serves as the psychological bridge linking early maltreatment to these harmful habits.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Psychology has found that chronic feelings of shame may link childhood emotional abuse to destructive thought patterns in survivors. The research, led by Mohammadali Amini-Tehrani from the University of Western Australia, aimed to understand the mechanisms behind this psychological challenge.
The study involved 93 undergraduate students, who completed questionnaires about their history of childhood maltreatment, their tendencies to experience chronic shame, and their reliance on cognitive perseveration in daily life. Participants also engaged in a laboratory experiment called Cyberball, which simulates social exclusion to induce temporary feelings of shame.
The findings suggest that shame may act as a bridge between childhood emotional abuse and the use of cognitive perseveration in adulthood, a response-focused emotion regulation strategy that leaves individuals trapped in a cycle of distress.
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