Shame- and guilt-proneness and self-compassion as predictors of self-forgiveness

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between guilt–/shame-proneness and self-forgiveness. The study is based on the Hall and Fincham’s self-forgiveness model which indicated guilt and shame proneness as emotional predictors of self-forgiveness. The sample consisted of 300 participants. They completed online self-report questionnaires related to shame and guilt-proneness (TOSCA-3), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale) and self-forgiveness (State Self-Forgiveness Scale). The multiple mediation models were developed to assess the extent to which selfcompassion mediates the relationship between shame- and guilt –proneness and selfforgiveness. The results showed that self-compassion mediated the link between shame-proneness and self-forgiveness (Total indirect effect B=-.24 CI95% [-.331 - .164]), shame-proneness and self-forgiving feeling and action (Total indirect effect B=- .15 CI95% [-.195 -.101], and shame-proneness and self-forgiving beliefs(Total indirect effect B=-.10 CI95% [-.149 -.051]). Shame activated during a transgression leads to less understanding, forbearance and compassion toward oneself. This attitude inhibits self-forgiveness.

KEYWORDS:

• shame-proneness
• guilt-proneness
• self-compassion
• self-forgiveness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Poland, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Justyna Mróz

Justyna Mróz, PhD, is a Doctor in the Department of Psychology at The Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Poland. She has published numerous articles and chapters in the areas of forgiveness. She has 15 years of experience in psychotherapy and psychological help for people with trauma.

Wojciech Sornat

Wojciech Sornat, Psychologist at the Świętokrzyskie Psychiatry Center in Morawica, Poland. Psychotherapist in training. Interested in health and personality psychology. Main interests are related to psychoanalytic psychology, Kleinian Object Relations Theory and Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP).