Specificity of Implicit-Shame Associations

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the specificity of implicit-shame associations across individuals diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder ( n = 30), obsessive-compulsive disorder ( n = 30), and social anxiety disorder ( n = 29) and individuals in a mentally healthy control group ( n = 33). All participants completed a series of Implicit Association Tests that tapped into shame associated with each disorder. Planned contrasts indicated that compared with individuals in the other groups, individuals in the body dysmorphic disorder group had greater body-relevant implicit shame and those in the obsessive-compulsive disorder group had greater implicit shame tied to obsessive thoughts. The social anxiety disorder group did not differ significantly from the other groups on implicit performance-relevant shame, although in comparison with the other clinical groups, means were in the expected direction. Our comparative design adds to existing cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations of body dysmorphic, obsessive-compulsive, and social anxiety disorders that have traditionally focused on strategic forms of cognition within a single disorder.