The Relationships between Borderline Personality Traits, Offence-Related Feelings of Shame and Guilt and Attitudes towards Violence

This study aims to examine the borderline personality traits and offence-related feelings of shame and guilt and attitudes towards violence by considering them together in a relational way. The study consisted of the voluntary participation of 400 young adults, 218 women (54.5%) and 182 men (45.5%). The age range is between 18-35 years old. Socio-demographic Information Form prepared by the researcher, Borderline Personality Scale, Offence-Related Shame and Guilt Scale, and Attitude towards Violence Scale were used in the study. The data collected online were transferred to the SPSS 25 program. According to the research findings, as self-image and emptiness increase, guilt increases, and as impulsivity, suicide and self-mutilation increase, guilt decreases. Also, as affective instability, abandonment, relationships, self-image, emptiness and intense fear increase, shame increases, and as impulsivity increases, shame decreases. As all borderline personality traits except emptiness increase, attitudes towards violence increase, and as attitudes towards violence increase, guilt and shame decrease. In addition to these findings, while affective instability is more common in women, impulsivity is more common in men. Besides, borderline personality traits are associated with low education level and low-income level. In light of these findings, it is seen that borderline personality traits are associated with offence-related feelings of shame and guilt and attitudes towards violence.