Dysfunctional Attitude and Self-Blame: Effect on Self-Esteem and Self-Conscious Emotions among Adolescents

Abstract

The present studied investigated the effect of dysfunctional attitude and self-blame on self-esteem and self-conscious emotions (shame and guilt) among adolescents. 122 adolescents between 15-19 years were taken in for the study. They were students of 11th and 12th standard of various public and private schools of Patiala. All the participants were given Child and Adolescent Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (CADAS), Attribution Blame Questionnaire (ABQ), Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory (MSEI), Test of Self Conscious Affect- Adolescents (TOSCA-A). Results showed that adolescents high on dysfunctional attitude are low on self esteem and high on shame whereas adolescents high on self-blame were also low on self-esteem and high on shame. The study also shows interaction between dysfunctional attitudes and self-blame.