ATTACHMENT AND SHAME-COPING STYLE: A RELATIONSHIP MEDIATED BY FEAR OF COMPASSION? A DISSERTATION in Counseling Psychology Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by SUZANNE HEFLIN M.A., University of Central Oklahoma, 2005 Kansas City, Missouri 2015 © 2015 SUZANNE HEFLIN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ATTACHMENT AND SHAME-COPING STYLE: A RELATIONSHIP MEDIATED BY FEAR OF COMPASSION? Suzanne Heflin, Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2015 ABSTRACT Theorists have proposed that shame is a predominant emotion presented in psychotherapy. Research has focused on shame proneness; less is known about how one copes with shame. Research suggests the best antidotes for shame are receptiveness to compassion from others and the ability to be self-compassionate. However, studies have demonstrated that some individuals fear compassion; perhaps they anticipate deception or feel they are unworthy of compassion. This study examined the association between adult attachment (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and shame-coping style. Fear of compassion from others (FoC-FromOthers) and fear of compassion for self (FoC-ForSelf) were conceptualized as mediators between the attachment dimensions and shame-coping styles. Males and females were analyzed separately. Factor analysis revealed a three factor structure for shame-coping style (i.e., withdrawal/attack self, avoidance, and attack other). For men and women, attachment anxiety was a significant predictor of all three shame- coping styles; attachment avoidance was a significant predictor for shame-coping styles withdrawal/attack self and attack other, but not shame-coping style avoidance. For men, FoC-FromOthers partially mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and shame- coping styles withdrawal/attack self and attack other; it partially mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and withdrawal/attack self. For women, FoC-FromOthers iii partially mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and withdrawal/attack self and attack other; mediation analysis was not significant for attachment avoidance and any shame-coping style. Clinical implications and study limitations are discussed. iv APPROVAL PAGE The faculty listed below, appointed by the Dean of the School of Education have examined a dissertation titled “Attachment and Shame-Coping Style: A Relationship Mediated by Fear of Compassion?” presented by Suzanne Heflin, candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, and hereby certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance. SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE Chrisanthia Brown, Ph.D., Committee Chair Counseling and Educational Psychology Carolyn Barber, Ph.D. Counseling and Educational Psychology LaVerne Berkel, Ph.D. Counseling and Educational Psychology Kimberly Langrehr, Ph.D. Counseling and Educational Psychology Johanna Nilsson, Ph.D. Counseling and Educational Psychology v CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...............................................................................................x LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................1 Attachment Theory .................................................................................................... 2 Shame ........................................................................................................................ 3 Compassion from Others and for Self ....................................................................... 3 Study Purpose............................................................................................................ 5 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................. 7 Attachment Theory ...................................................................................................... 7 Attachment Style .................................................................................................... 9 Adult Attachment ...................................................................................................11 Attachment Self-Report Measures .........................................................................13 Relationship Questionnaire ..............................................................................13 Relationship Scales Questionnaire ...................................................................14 Experiences in Close Relationships Scale .......................................................15 Attachment measure differences ......................................................................18 Attachment Terminology .......................................................................................19 Shame ...........................................................................................................................21 Shame versus Guilt ................................................................................................23 Adaptive Purpose of Shame ...................................................................................24 vi Shame and Culture .................................................................................................25 Shame and Gender .................................................................................................26 Shame-Coping Styles .............................................................................................27 Research on Shame-Coping Styles ........................................................................30 Attachment and Shame ................................................................................................34 Attachment and Shame Proneness .........................................................................34 Attachment and Shame Prevalence ........................................................................36 Compassion ..................................................................................................................38 Attachment and Fear of Compassion from Others ................................................41 Attachment and Self-Compassion..........................................................................42 Fear of Compassion for Self ..................................................................................48 Fears of Compassion .............................................................................................51 Shame and Self-Compassion .................................................................................50 Study Rationale ............................................................................................................53 Purpose, Hypotheses, and Research Questions............................................................56 3. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................60 Participants ...................................................................................................................60 Measures ......................................................................................................................65 Demographics ........................................................................................................65 Attachment .............................................................................................................65 Shame .....................................................................................................................65 Fears of Compassion ..............................................................................................67 Procedure .....................................................................................................................68 vii Recruitment ............................................................................................................68 Ethical Considerations ..........................................................................................68 4. RESULTS .....................................................................................................................70 Descriptive Statistics ....................................................................................................70 EFA ..............................................................................................................................72 CoSS EFA ..............................................................................................................72 CoSS EFA by Gender ............................................................................................74 FoC EFA ................................................................................................................80 FoC EFA by Gender ..............................................................................................82 Dimensional Model ......................................................................................................84 CoSS CFA ..............................................................................................................85 FoC CFA ................................................................................................................88