selfreproach

Self-reproach is a form of self-criticism in which individuals direct blame or condemnation at themselves after an action or decision that they perceive as flawed or morally wrong. It often involves cognitive appraisal of the self as defective and is closely related to, but not identical with, guilt or shame. Guilt typically concerns the wrongdoing of a specific act and a motivation to make amends, while shame reflects a negative judgment about the whole person. Self-reproach combines moral evaluation with a focus on the self and can be episodic or chronic.

Causes include adherence to high personal standards, perfectionism, rumination, and internalization of social or cultural norms. It can be amplified by cognitive biases such as internal attribution for negative events and by mood disorders or stress. While mild self-reproach can promote accountability and reparative behavior, persistent self-reproach is linked to depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and anxiety.

In clinical and research contexts, self-reproach is studied as part of broader constructs of self-criticism and self-blame. Interventions to mitigate maladaptive self-reproach often emphasize self-compassion, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, and behavioral repair, while preserving constructive accountability. Mindfulness-based therapies can reduce automatic self-blame by increasing awareness of automatic thoughts without overidentification.