Characterological versus behavioral self-blame: Inquiries into depression and rape.

TLDR

Self‑blame is divided into behavioral (control‑related, modifiable source) and characterological (esteem‑related, non‑modifiable source) forms. The study proposes that characterological self‑blame may resolve the paradox of depression. The authors conducted two studies: a comparison of self‑blame in depressed versus nondepressed female college students, and a survey of rape crisis center victims. Depressed female college students showed higher characterological self‑blame and lower personal control, while rape victims predominantly used behavioral self‑blame to preserve a sense of control.

Abstract

Two types of self-blame--behavioral and characterological--are distinguished. Behavioral self-blame is control related, involves attributions to a modifiable source (one's behavior), and is associated with a belief in the future avoidability of a negative outcome. Characterological self-blame is esteem related, involves attributions to a relatively nonmodifiable source (one's character), and is associated with a belief in personal deservingness for past negative outcomes. Two studies are reported that bear on this self-blame distinction. In the first study, it was found that depressed female college students engaged in more characterologial self-blame than nondepressed female college students, whereas behavioral self-blame did not differ between the two groups; the depressed population was also characterized by greater attributions to chance and decreased beliefs in personal control. Characterological self-blame is proposed as a possible solution to the "paradox in depression." In a second study, rape crisis centers were surveyed. Behavioral self-blame, and not characterological self-blame, emerged as the most common response of rape victims to their victimization, suggesting the victim's desire to maintain a belief in control, particularly the belief in the future avoidability of rape. Implications of this self-blame distinction and potential directions for future research are discussed.