Date Available

11-2-2012

Year of Publication

2012

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Advisor

Dr. Ruth A. Baer

Abstract

Two prominent emotions in borderline personality disorder (BPD) are anger and shame. Rumination has been demonstrated to occur in response to shame and to escalate anger, and rumination, particularly anger rumination, has been shown to predict BPD symptoms. The present study examined whether one way that shame leads to the features of BPD is via increased anger and anger rumination. A sample of 823 undergraduates completed self-report measures of global and situational shame, trait- level anger, anger'rumination, and BPD features. A structural equation model was constructed using these measures. The hypothesized model of shame to anger and anger rumination to BPD features was largely supported. Bootstrapping was used to establish significant indirect effects from both forms of shame via anger rumination to BPD features, and from global shame via anger to BPD features. Recognizing this function of anger rumination may be important in developing and practicing interventions to reduce it. Further research into other ways individuals maladaptively respond to shame and functions of anger rumination is recommended.

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