Attachment Styles and Proneness to Guilt and Shame among Young Adults

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the relationship between attachment styles and proneness to guilt and shame among young adults (18-25 years). Shame and guilt are the two emotions closely linked with attachment-related dynamics. Attachment styles play a crucial role in determining and molding an individual’s intimate relationships. The predisposition towards guilt and shame can heavily influence how an individual behaves within their relationship, therefore making it necessary to understand how attachment styles are associated with an inclination toward guilt and shame. A sample of 100 young adults (50 females, 50 males) completed the Adult Attachment Scale and the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale. Data analysis involved the use of correlation and independent samples t-test. The results indicated while there is no significant relationship between attachment styles and guilt-proneness, proneness to shame was significantly related to it. Furthermore, no significant sex differences were found in terms of proneness to guilt and shame. These results provide valuable insights into the associated dynamics between attachment styles, guilt-proneness and shame-proneness.