The Daily Emotions of Three High Ability Women with an Eating Disorder

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the emotions of shame and guilt in three high ability women, who suffer with an eating disorder. In-depth interviewing and the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) were the methodological strategies of choice for this study. The three women, Hazel, Pat and Catherine reported feeling inferior and ineffective in their relationships with others. They held the erroneous belief that something was bad about them. Each experienced a chronic sense of shame. They reported feeling ashamed even when not in the presence of others. Our participants developed a sense of shame about their bodies. The eating disorder also contributed to their felt shame. The act of purging left Hazel feeling a sense of self-loathing and disgust for engaging in such a demeaning, humiliating act. For Hazel, Pat and Catherine their struggle with eating was a source of shame. All three women also reported experiencing guilt. The three felt morally obligated to make their parents happy and having an eating disorder caused them to violate this value. Guilt arose because the women believed they were the source of their parent’s pain. Our participants also felt unworthy of all they were given and experienced remorse in joyful occasions as well as for being given material things. The results revealed an understanding of the individual emotions that three women who suffer from an eating disorder feel. What emerged from the present study was that shame and guilt were prevalent emotions among the participants.

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Maria Assunta Cuffaro

Maria Assunta Cuffaro received her B.A. in High Honours Psychology and holds both a M.A. and Ph.D. in Education. She is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the School of Education and Professional Studies.