A new psychological investigation suggests that emotional abuse in childhood serves as the primary driver for a debilitating form of personality pathology characterized by chronic shame and self-criticism. While various forms of mistreatment can leave lasting scars, this specific type of belittlement appears to predict a person’s tendency to view themselves with contempt more strongly than other trauma types. The research further identifies a distinct pattern in men, for whom physical abuse also plays a major role in shaping this negative self-image. These findings were published in the Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development. For decades, mental health professionals organized personality problems into distinct categories. A patient might receive a diagnosis of depressive personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. However, the field is currently undergoing a shift toward a dimensional model. In this newer framework, psychologists view personality issues as broad spectrums of dysfunction that can overlap. One such dimension is known as malignant self-regard. Malignant self-regard represents a core component of several personality disorders. It describes a person who struggles with …