Cultural differences in the relationship between shame and anger

The relationship between shame-proneness and trait anger was explored via three distinct avenues: (1) replication of Tangney, Wagner, Fletcher, and Gramzow's (1992) research which demonstrated a correlational link between shame-proneness and trait anger; (2) a cross-cultural comparison between Asian and Caucasian participants; and (3) an exploration of the cultural psychology concept of self-construal (e.g., independence and interdependence). In this study, shame-proneness, trait anger, and self-construal were assessed using (1) the Test of Self Conscious Affect (TOSCA; Tangney, Wagner & Gramzow, 1989); (2) the Spielberger Trait Anger Scale (TAS; Spielberger, Jacobs, Russell, & Crane. 1983); and (3) the Self-Construal Scale (Singelis, 1994).; Tangney et al.'s (1992) findings were successfully replicated in this study's ethnically diverse public university sample; shame-proneness was significantly positively correlated with trait anger and with the subscales of trait anger: anger temperament and anger reactivity. It was hypothesized that shame-proneness would be significantly positively correlated with trait anger for Caucasian participants but not for Asian participants. Cross-cultural analyses revealed that shame-proneness was significantly positively correlated with trait anger in both ethnic groups. However, for Caucasians only, there was a significant correlation between shame-proneness and one of the subscales of trait anger, anger reactivity.; Investigation into the moderating effects of self-construal on the relationship between shame-proneness and trait anger revealed no significant findings for either Asian or Caucasian participants. For Caucasian participants, however, shame-proneness, interdependence, and a shame-proneness by interdependence Interaction term were all significant contributors to the trait anger subscale, anger reactivity. Specifically, high interdependence, but not high independence as was predicted, was a significant contributor to the shame-proneness-anger reactivity relationship for Caucasians.; This study provides additional evidence for a relationship between shame-proneness and trait anger. Further, in this study, cross-cultural analyses and analyses with self-construal demonstrate the need to carefully refine the emotion terms under investigation. That is, in this study the relationship between shame-proneness and trait anger appears to be pan-cultural until the subscales of trait anger are examined and cultural variation is revealed. Both the limitations of, and implications from, this study's findings are discussed.