Preliminary Data about the Validation of a Self-Report for the Assessment of Interpersonal Guilt: The Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scales–15s (IGRS-15s)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present validation data about a self-report rating scale for the assessment of interpersonal guilt according to Control-Mastery Theory (CMT; Silbershatz, 2005; Weiss, 1993; Weiss, Sampson, & The Mount Zion Psychotherapy Research Group, 1986), the Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale-15s (IGRS-15s). In order to perform the validation of this tool in an Italian sample we have collected a sample of 645 nonclinical subjects. They had to complete the IGRS-15s, the Scale for the Measurement of the Impending Punishment (SMIP; Caprara et al., 1990), the Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaire-67 (IGQ-67; O'Connor et al., 1997), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI; Dupuy, 1984), and the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS; Davis, Panksepp, & Normansell, 2003), together with an ad-hoc questionnaire for collecting demographic data, the Socio-Demographical Schedule. We have performed a confirmatory factor analysis to verify if the four-factor solution based on CMT and replicated in previous research (Gazzillo et al., 2017) was confirmed. Then, we checked the retest reliability of IGRS-15s after four weeks in a random subsample of 54 subjects. In order to assess its concurrent and discriminant validity, we calculated the correlations between IGRS-15s assessment and SMIP and IGQ-67. Finally, to test its construct validity, we assessed the relationships between the IGRS-15s and the affective systems using the ANPS and the wellbeing assessed with the PGWBI. The data collected support the retest reliability and the concurrent and discriminant validity of the measure, and we have collected preliminary data about its construct validity. Examples of the possible clinical and research applications of this tool are discussed.

Guilt, Shame, Empathy, Self-Esteem, and Traumas: New Data for the Validation of the Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale–15 Self-Report (IGRS-15s)

“…Overall, our data support the constructs of the different kinds of guilt as conceptualized in CMT and assessed with the IGRS-15s: Survivor guilt and Omnipotence guilt-which in a previous study (Gazzillo et al, 2018) were found to be connected to the basic affective systems of care, attachment, and fear-were connected to the empathy felt for other people's suffering, contributed to feelings of shame and low self-esteem, negatively affected well-being and mental health, and were stronger in people who felt that during their development their caregiver had more problems than they did, needed their help, or appeared burdened by them or pained by their separation and differentiation. Self-hate, for its part-which the same previous study showed to be connected to attachment and fear motivational systems but not to the care system-was not correlated with empathy, negatively affected self-esteem, well-being, and mental health, stirred up feelings of shame, and negatively influenced therapeutic alliance, as did Survivor guilt.…”

“…A three-factor analysis solution model (Survivor guilt; Omnipotence guilt; Self-hate), based on previous research with this tool (IGRS-15s; Gazzillo et al, 2018), was proposed. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and network analysis of 448 cases were conducted.…”

“…The Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale-15 Self-Report (IGRS-15s; Gazzillo et al, 2018). The IGRS-15s is a 15-item, self-report rating scale assessing interpersonal guilt as conceived according to CMT.…”

“…We know that guilt is connected to motivational systems of fear, attachment, and care (Gazzillo et al, 2018), derives from the ability to empathically feel other people's suffering combined with a feeling of responsibility for that distress (Hoffman, 2000), and motivates attempts to repair (Tangney & Dearing, 2002). However, guilt may become pathogenic when shaped or strengthened by pathogenic beliefs.…”

“…We subsequently developed and validated a self-report version of this tool, the Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale-15 self-report (IGRS-15s;Gazzillo et al, 2018), whose factor analysis suggested a three-factor solution: Survivor guilt (5 items), Omnipotence guilt (7 items), assessing both separation disloyalty and omnipotent responsibility guilt, and Selfhate (3 items). The concordant and discriminant validity of the IGRS-15s, assessed using the IGQ-67 as one of the criterion measures, was good.…”