Date of Graduation
Spring 2024
Degree
Master of Science in Psychology
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
CaSandra Stanbrough
Abstract
This study identifies the impact of interpersonal interdependence on one’s physiological response when one witnesses shame and examines the predictive qualities of shame-proneness and empathy on these differences. It is predicted that interpersonal interdependence, shame proneness, and empathy will affect the physiological response. A One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA, single linear regression, and multiple linear regression were used to assess differences. The findings showed that participants experienced significantly higher levels of physiological arousal when experiencing shame personally compared to witnessing it in others (stranger and loved one). It was also found that shame-proneness has a negative relationship with physiological arousal when witnessing and experiencing shame. Finally, cognitive empathy was found to be a significant predictor of physiological arousal across all levels of interpersonal interdependence (stranger, loved one, personal), but affective empathy was not.
Keywords
shame, shame-proneness, empathy, interpersonal interdependence, electrodermal activity
Subject Categories
Psychology
Copyright
© Lauren Michelle Smith
Recommended Citation
Smith, Lauren Michelle, "Sharing Is Caring: The Effect of Interpersonal Interdependence, Shame Proneness, and Empathy on One's Physiological Response When Witnessing and Experiencing Shame" (2024). MSU Graduate Theses. 3966.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3966
