The relationship between shame and different types of anger: A theory-based investigation

Abstract

The link between shame and anger is widely recognised in the clinical literature and a positive correlation between dispositions to the two emotions is evident in numerous studies. However research into the mechanisms behind the relationship is sparse, with little consideration of when anger is shame-related and when it is not. Both shame–rage theory ( Lewis, 1971) and social rank theory ( Gilbert, 1997) suggest that shame would be more strongly associated with anger in response to criticism than to having an angry temperament and this hypothesis was tested in the current study. Questionnaire measures of shame and anger were completed by 188 university students. The results were in line with predictions, and indicated that the relationship between shame proneness and trait anger is due to an association between shame and the tendency to become angry in reaction to criticism. In the absence of such a tendency, having an angry temperament was not related to shame, and this effect did not vary by gender. The findings extend previous research by confirming that shame is related to a tendency to a particular type of anger, namely that felt after specific provocation.