While guilt is focused on the specific misdeed, shame is a very different animal. Linked to the
feeling of disgust, shame focuses on a person’s character. Shame casts one not as a human being who
did a bad thing, but as a human being who is bad. This is why people who are shameful often feel
diminished and worthless. It’s also why shame rarely leads us to take action to make amends. In fact,
studies show that people who feel shame are more likely to respond defensively, perhaps trying to
escape blame, deny responsibility or even pin it on others. In studies, prison inmates who exhibited
shame at the time of their incarceration ended up reoffending more often than those who exhibited
guilt
feeling of disgust, shame focuses on a person’s character. Shame casts one not as a human being who
did a bad thing, but as a human being who is bad. This is why people who are shameful often feel
diminished and worthless. It’s also why shame rarely leads us to take action to make amends. In fact,
studies show that people who feel shame are more likely to respond defensively, perhaps trying to
escape blame, deny responsibility or even pin it on others. In studies, prison inmates who exhibited
shame at the time of their incarceration ended up reoffending more often than those who exhibited
guilt
No comments:
Post a Comment