Relationship between shame and theory of mind in early adolescence: the mediating role of private and public self-consciousness

Shame, theory of mind (ToM) and self-consciousness were examined in a group of early adolescents aged 10-12 years. The aim was to assess whether the relationship between early adolescents' dispositional shame and ToM is mediated by their private and public self-consciousness. One hundred adolescents (<i>M</i> = 11;1 years; months, 51 girls) were administered measures assessing dispositional shame and self-consciousness and a ToM test. Results support an essential distinction between the private and public aspects of self-consciousness and show that ToM's relationship to dispositional shame is mediated by public but not private self-consciousness. The significance of these findings and their potential implications for theoretical models of shame development is discussed.