Interpretive Structural Modelling of Factors Influencing the Socialization of the Emotion of Shame in Adolescent Girls

Shame, as a fundamental self-conscious emotion, operates beyond an individualfeeling in collectivist cultures such as Iran, playing a significant role in regulatingsocial behaviour. The present study aimed to explain and model the structure offactors influencing the socialization of shame among adolescent girls. Thisexploratory mixed-methods research was conducted within an inductive–deductive framework. In the qualitative phase, factors influencing thesocialization of shame were identified through semi-structured interviews withgirls aged 12 to 15. In the quantitative phase, to validate and analyse therelationships among these factors, the perspectives of psychology experts andschool counsellors were examined using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM).Findings revealed that fourteen factors, organized across seven hierarchicallevels, contribute to the formation and transmission of shame. At the foundationallevels, Cultural Norms, Religious–Moral Teachings, and Body Image Issues wereidentified as the most influential factors, whereas Parenting Strategies inSocialization and Emotional Intelligence Education showed the highest level ofsusceptibility. Additionally, Internalization of Shame and Suppression ofAuthenticity were recognized as intermediary and driving factors. The resultsindicate that the socialization of shame in adolescent girls is a multi-level,dynamic process shaped by the interaction of cultural, familial, and individualfactors. These findings provide a foundation for developing preventive andeducational interventions in families, schools, and cultural institutions totransform maladaptive experiences of shame into constructive emotionalprocesses that foster a positive sense of identity.