title: When is shame linked to constructive approach orientation? A meta-analysis.
abstract: Despite recent evidence that episodic shame can be linked to the constructive approach of failure (i.e., prosociality, self-improvement), the prevailing view is that shame is neither constructive nor approach-oriented. To integrate these opposing views, we conducted a theory-driven meta-analysis of 90 samples from the published literature (N = 12,364). As expected, shame had a positive link to constructive approach when failure (g = .47, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.37, .55]) or social image (g = .37, 95% CI [.06, .68]) was more reparable. In contrast, shame had a negative link to constructive approach when failure was less reparable (g = -.34, 95% CI [-.53, -.14]). A supplemental meta-analysis of 42 samples showed shame and guilt to have a similar positive link to constructive approach orientation when failure was more reparable (g = .44 and .43), but not when it was less reparable (g = -.08 and .27).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut.
authors.forename: Colin Wayne
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cidam
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D006801:Humans; D012752:Shame; D012919:Social Behavior