To see in a mirror dimly. The looking glass self is self-shaming in borderline personality disorder

Symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be conceptualized as the expression of and defenses against or response to the painful emotion of chronic shame, which may relate to early maladaptive schemas (EMS). The goal of this research is to examine levels of early maladaptive schemas, self-reported shame, and anxious or angry reactions to social put-downs as well as their associations. We also looked to assess the association of shame with BPD symptoms. Fifty-six patients with BPD completed self-report measures of EMSs, chronic shame, and reactions to put-downs. Comparison groups consisted of 24 patients without personality disorder (non-PD) and 80 healthy controls (HC). Those with BPD reported higher levels of EMSs, characterological, behavioral and bodily shame, and were more prone to react with anxiety and anger than non-PD patients and HC subjects. EMSs domains had specific associations with chronic shame and reaction types to social put-downs. Identity disturbances were associated with characterological, behavioral and bodily shame. Stormy relationships were associated with bodily shame. Chronic shame and anxious and angry reactions to social put-downs are prominent in patients with borderline personality disorder and are associated with specific EMS domains and with the symptoms of identity disturbance and stormy relationships. •Chronic shame is elevated in borderline personality disorder.•Both anxious and angry reaction to social put-down are characteristic to BPD.•There are strong associations between early maladaptive schema and chronic shame.•Reaction type to social put-down is associated with specific schema domains.•Chronic shame is associated with identity disturbances and stormy relationships.