Shame Theory
Home Up Affect Theory Shame Theory Identity Affect Regulation Relationships

 

All text copyright © 2002 by Gershen Kaufman.

II. SHAME AND SELF-ESTEEM

THEORY:

DEVELOPMENTAL SOURCES

INTERNALIZATION

MAGNIFICATION

SCENES AND SCRIPTS

SHAME-BASED SYNDROMES

GENDER/CULTURE/SOCIETY

GAY/LESBIAN IDENTITY

MINORITY IDENTITY

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WAR

AFFECT AND IDEOLOGY

 

TOOLS:

SHAME SCENE

SHAME PROFILE

 

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAME

PATHOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT
NORMAL
DEVELOPMENT
Depression Self-Esteem
Alienation Self-Image
Loneliness Self-Concept
Paranoia Self-Doubt
Inferiority Body-Image
Perfectionism Security
Addiction Confidence
Eating Disorders Belonging
Sexual Abuse Intimacy
Physical Abuse Conscience
Sexual Disorders Human Dignity
Borderline Disorders Identity

 

 

IMPLICATIONS OF AN AFFECT THEORY PERSPECTIVE ON SHAME

1. SHAME IS AN INNATE UNIVERSAL AFFECT WITH INHERENTLY ADAPTIVE, DISTINCTLY POSITIVE FEATURES.

SHAME IS CRUCIAL TO IDENTITY, CONSCIENCE, AND DIGNITY.

SHAME IS EQUALLY CENTRAL TO SELF-ESTEEM AND TO INTIMACY.

 

2. SHAME BEGINS AS PARTIAL AND TEMPORARY.

IT IS NEITHER INHERENTLY GLOBAL NOR AUTOMATICALLY CRIPPLING.

 

3. SHAME CAN BE EXPERIENCED IN THE ABSENCE OF A WATCHING OR SHAMING OTHER.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS.

 

4. SHAME IS OBSERVABLE FROM BIRTH THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE TO DEATH.

IT IS NOT CONFINED TO THE MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP OR THE FAMILY.

 

5. CRITICAL DISTINCTION:

SHAME AS AN AMPLIFYING AFFECT

INTERNALIZED/MAGNIFIED SHAME THAT PROGRESSIVELY CAPTURES AND DOMINATES THE SELF

 

6. THE CONTINUING DEBATE ABOUT SHAME VS. GUILT IS RENDERED OBSOLETE AND IRRELEVANT.

 

7. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SHAME AND GUILT IS EQUIVALENT TO THAT BETWEEN SHAME AND SHYNESS:

THESE ARE DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OF SHAME -- VARIANTS OF ONE AND THE SAME AFFECT.

 

8. SHAME IS NOT THE SAME AS, NOR SIMPLY THE PRODUCT OF, NEGATIVE COGNITIVE SELF-APPRAISALS.

AFFECT IS INNATE -- AND EXISTS PRIOR TO AND IS PRIMARY OVER -- COGNITION OR LANGUAGE.

 

9. SHAME IS NOT THE RESULT OF DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES ALONE -- NOT JUST THE CONSEQUENCE OF DISTURBED INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.

 

10. THE CENTRALITY OF SHAME:

EXTENDS BEYOND ADDICTION, ABUSE, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES, AND THE  RECOVERY MOVEMENT.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAME:

LIES IN ITS IMPACT ON PERSONALITY, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, INTERPERSONAL  RELATIONS, MINORITY GROUP RELATIONS, MINORITY IDENTITY, NATIONAL IDENTITY, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

 

 

SHAME THEORY

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES

LANGUAGE AND SHAME

AFFECT THEORY AND SHAME

IMPLICATIONS OF AFFECT THEORY

THREE MISTAKEN ASSUMPTIONS:

SHAME AND GUILT

SHAME AND ADDICTION

SHAME AND DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES

THE QUEST FOR BIOCHEMICAL ANSWERS

SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAME FOR:

SELF-ESTEEM, IDENTITY, INTIMACY

 

 

PHENOMENOLOGY OF SHAME

1. INNER EXPERIENCE:

Exposure

2. EFFECTS ON SELF:

Paralysis, Hiding, Transparency

3. FACIAL SIGNS:

Eyes Down, Head Down, Blushing

4. SECONDARY REACTIONS:

Fear, Distress, Rage

 

 

SHAME COMPLEXES

DISCOURAGEMENT Partial, Temporary
EMBARRASSMENT Audience
SHYNESS Presence of Stranger
SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS Performance
INFERIORITY Global, Permanent
GUILT Immorality

COASSEMBLED SHAME COMPLEX:

Activator -- Affect -- Consequence

 

 

SPECTRUM OF GUILT COMPLEXES

Guilt Requires An Ethical Judgment Of Transgression, Of Immorality

But Guilt Can Comprise Any of the Following Affects (All Directed at the Self):

SHAME -- Immorality Shame

ANGER -- Accusatory Self-Blame

FEAR

DISTRESS -- Grief, Remorse

DISSMELL

DISGUST

CONTEMPT (Anger plus Dissmell)

 

 

DEVELOPMENTAL SOURCES OF SHAME

INNATE ACTIVATOR

INTERPERSONAL ACTIVATOR

 

PREVERBAL

CHILDHOOD

ADOLESCENCE

ADULTHOOD

OLD AGE

 

CULTURAL SOURCES OF SHAME

 

 

OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAME:

SELF-ESTEEM, IDENTITY, INTIMACY

2. PHENOMENOLOGY OF SHAME

3. SOURCES AND COMPLEXES

4. DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESSION

5. INTERNALIZATION:
   CREATION OF SHAME BINDS

6. PSYCHOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION:
    FUSION AND INTERCONNECTION OF SHAME SCENES

7. DEFENDING SCRIPTS

8. IDENTITY SCRIPTS (SELF-SHAMING):

SELF-BLAME, SELF-CONTEMPT, COMPARISON MAKING

9. DISOWNING AND SPLITTING

10. SHAME-BASED SYNDROMES

 

 

INNATE MOTIVATIONAL SYSTEMS

AFFECT
SYSTEM
DRIVE
SYSTEM
INTERPERSONAL
NEED SYSTEM
PURPOSE
SYSTEM
       
EXCITEMENT SEX RELATIONSHIP VARIABLE
ENJOYMENT HUNGER TOUCHING/HOLDING  
SURPRISE THIRST IDENTIFICATION  
FEAR SLEEP DIFFERENTIATION  
ANGER WARMTH TO NURTURE  
DISTRESS OXYGEN AFFIRMATION  
SHAME PAIN POWER  
DISSMELL      
DISGUST      

 

OTHER INNATE FACTORS

INNATE TEMPERAMENT: INTROVERSION -- EXTROVERSION

INNATE AFFECT-DRIVE-NEED INTENSITY, AND/OR INNATE ACTIVATION THRESHOLD

INNATE SEXUAL ORIENTATION:

(1) GENETIC FACTORS

(2) PRENATAL FACTORS

(3) ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

(4) THE SELF'S ACTIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE PARTICIPATION IN ORGANIZING AND REARRANGING EXPERIENCE

 

 

AFFECT-SHAME BINDS

EXCITEMENT -- SHAME BIND

ENJOYMENT -- SHAME BIND

SURPRISE -- SHAME BIND

ANGER -- SHAME BIND

FEAR -- SHAME BIND

DISTRESS -- SHAME BIND

SHAME -- SHAME BIND

DISSMELL -- SHAME BIND

DISGUST -- SHAME BIND

 

 

DRIVE-SHAME BINDS

SEX -- SHAME BIND

HUNGER -- SHAME BIND

 

 

INTERPERSONAL NEED-SHAME BINDS

RELATIONSHIP -- SHAME BIND

TOUCHING/HOLDING -- SHAME BIND

IDENTIFICATION -- SHAME BIND

DIFFERENTIATION -- SHAME BIND

NURTURE -- SHAME BIND

AFFIRMATION -- SHAME BIND

POWER -- SHAME BIND

 

 

SHAME PROFILE: STAGES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION

STAGE III:

CHARACTER SHAME OR SHAME-BASED IDENTITY

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STAGE II:

BODY
SHAME

RELATIONSHIP
SHAME

COMPETENCE
SHAME

   wpe7.jpg (958 bytes)

STAGE I:

AFFECT
SHAME
SCENES
DRIVE
SHAME
SCENES

INTERPERSONAL
NEED SHAME
SCENES

PURPOSE
SHAME
SCENES

 

 

DEFENDING SCRIPTS

RAGE

CONTEMPT

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

STRIVING FOR POWER

TRANSFER OF BLAME

INTERNAL WITHDRAWAL

HUMOR

DENIAL

 

 

IDENTITY SCRIPTS

SELF-BLAME

COMPARISON MAKING

SELF-CONTEMPT

wpe1.jpg (1172 bytes)DISOWNINGwpe1.jpg (1172 bytes)SPLITTING OF THE SELF

 

 

THEORY OF SHAME-BASED SYNDROMES

1. AFFECT THEORY PERSPECTIVE

 

2. CENTRAL CONSTRUCTS:

AFFECT, SCENE, SCRIPT

 

3. DETERMINANTS OF SYNDROME DEVELOPMENT:

ORGANIZING AFFECTS

GOVERNING SCENES

DEFENDING SCRIPTS

IDENTITY SCRIPTS

INNATE FACTORS:

STRENGTH OF AFFECT/NEED
ACTIVATION THRESHOLD
INNATE TEMPERAMENT
INNATE SEXUAL ORIENTATION

 

4. CLASSES OF SHAME-BASED SYNDROMES

 

 

CLASSES OF SHAME-BASED SYNDROMES

COMPULSIVE SYNDROMES

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Addiction

Eating Disorders

DEPRESSIVE, SCHIZOID, AND PARANOID SYNDROMES

PHOBIC SYNDROMES

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION SYNDROMES

SPLITTING SYNDROMES

Borderline/Narcissistic Disorders

Multiple Personality Disorders

SOCIOPATHIC/PSYCHOPATHIC SYNDROMES

 

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAME

MULTI-LAYERED NATURE OF SHAME:

INDIVIDUAL

FAMILY

CULTURE

LIFE CYCLE

INTER-GENERATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

 

 AFFECT, SCENE, AND SCRIPT:

THE CENTRAL CONSTRUCTS               

 

AFFECT OF SHAME:

EXPOSURE

HIDING, PARALYSIS, TRANSPARENCY

FACIAL SIGNS

SECONDARY REACTIONS

SHAME COMPLEXES

 

 

SHAME THEORY: NEW DIRECTIONS

AGING

DISABILITY

SCHOOL SETTING

WORK SETTING

GENDER

CULTURE

GAY/LESBIAN IDENTITY

MINORITY IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WAR

 

 

SHAME AND THE AGING PROCESS

INFANCY

CHILDHOOD

ADOLESCENCE

ADULTHOOD

OLD AGE

 

AGING:

POWERLESSNESS

ROLE REVERSAL

EMPATHIC SHAME -- EXPERIENCED BY ADULT CHILDREN

SHAME OVER RESENTMENT -- EXPERIENCED BY ADULT CHILDREN

 

 

DISABILITY AS A SOURCE OF SHAME

BODY DEFICIENCY = SELF DEFICIENCY

POWERLESSNESS

 

ON-LOOKERS EXPERIENCE:

EMPATHIC SHAME

CONTEMPT -- TO DISTANCE THE DISABLED, TO PROTECT AGAINST SHAME

 

 

SHAME IN THE SCHOOL SETTING

1. ROLE OF TEACHERS

2. ROLE OF PEERS

3. PARTITIONING OF CLASS INTO DIFFERENT ABILITY GROUPS

4. POWER VS. POWERLESSNESS

5. NEED FOR IDENTIFICATION WITH PEERS AND TEACHERS:

A SENSE OF BELONGING

6. NEED FOR AFFIRMATION FROM PEERS AND TEACHERS:

RECOGNITION, ADMIRATION, VALUING

 

 

SHAME IN THE WORK SETTING

1. POWER VS. POWERLESSNESS

2. NEED FOR IDENTIFICATION:

A SENSE OF BELONGING

3. NEED FOR AFFIRMATION:

RECOGNITION, ADMIRATION, VALUING

4. REENACTMENT OF SHAME SCENES

5. SHAMING SCRIPTS:

BLAME

CONTEMPT

COMPARISON MAKING

6. MORALE:

DISCOURAGEMENT

POWERLESSNESS

ALIENATION

DEVALUING

 

 

DIFFERENTIAL GENDER SHAMING

1. GENDER SHAMING PATTERNS:

WOMEN

MEN

AFFECTS

EXCITEMENT FEAR
ANGER DISTRESS
  SHAME

INTERPERSONAL NEEDS

POWER TOUCHING/HOLDING
DIFFERENTIATION IDENTIFICATION
  AFFIRMATION

2. FEMININE AND MASCULINE GENDER SCRIPTS

3. FROM GENDER SCRIPTS TO GENDER IDEOLOGIES

4. REVERSING THE STRATIFICATION OF THE AFFECTS AND NEEDS

5. THE IDEOLOGY OF WHOLENESS AND INTEGRATION

 

 

SHAME AND GAY/LESBIAN IDENTITY

1. IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONFLICTING IDENTIFICATIONS

2. CONTEMPT: A STRATEGY OF THE POWERLESS

3. SCENES OF SHAME

4. IDENTITY SCRIPTS:

COMPARISON MAKING

SELF-BLAME

SELF-CONTEMPT

5. HOMOPHOBIA:

SHAME

CONTEMPT

ANTI-CONTAMINATION SCRIPT

6. RESOLVING CONFLICTING IDENTIFICATIONS

 

 

PATTERNING OF SHAME BY CULTURE

1. CULTURAL SCRIPTS

2. AMERICAN CULTURE:

COMPETE FOR SUCCESS

BE INDEPENDENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT

BE POPULAR AND CONFORM

3. NATIVE AMERICANS

4. CHICANO

5. ESKIMOS

6. SOUTHERN STATES IN THE U. S.

7. MEDITERRANEAN CULTURES

8. EASTERN CULTURES

9. EXAMINING CULTURES FOR:

SOURCES OF SHAME

TARGETS OF SHAME

REMEDIES FOR SHAME

CULTURAL SCRIPTS

PATTERN OF AFFECT DISPLAY

PATTERN OF INTERPERSONAL NEED DISPLAY

10. CULTURAL SCRIPTS CREATE A NATION'S NATIONAL CHARACTER

11. CULTURAL SCRIPTS PATTERN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AROUND SHAME

12. PATTERN OF AFFECT DISPLAY:

AMERICAN VS. MEDITERRANEAN

13. CULTURAL SCRIPTS GOVERNING FOOD, EATING, AND PUBLIC EATING:

FRANCE VS. AMERICA

14. PATTERN OF INTERPERSONAL NEED DISPLAY:

EASTERN VS. WESTERN CULTURES

IDENTIFICATION VS. DIFFERENTIATION

15. DEGREE TO WHICH IDENTIFICATION WITH THE GROUP BECOMES MAGNIFIED IN A GIVEN CULTURE

16. DISPLAY OF TOUCHING/HOLDING NEED VARIES BY CULTURE

17. DISPLAY OF MUTUAL FACIAL GAZING (IDENTIFICATION) VARIES BY CULTURE

 

 

MULTI-LAYERED NATURE OF SHAME

AGING

DISABILITY

SCHOOL SETTING

WORK SETTING

GENDER

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

CULTURE

1. LAYERING OF DOMAINS OF EXPERIENCE EMBEDDED WITHIN ONE ANOTHER

2. EACH DOMAIN PERMITS OBSERVATIONS THAT OTHER DOMAINS DO NOT

 

 

AFFECT AND IDEOLOGY AMONG NATIONS

SHAME AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:

GERMANY: IDENTIFICATION WITH HERO, CONTEMPT FOR OTHERS

JAPAN: DEFEAT VICTOR ECONOMICALLY

FALKLAND ISLANDS: SHAME FUELS THE RECURRING CYCLE OF WAR

TERRORISM: RECASTING SCENES OF HUMILIATION/POWERLESSNESS

 

IDEOLOGY, AFFECT, AND WAR:

VIETNAM WAR: NATIONAL SHAME

GULF WAR: RETURN TO NATIONAL HONOR

 

SURVIVOR SHAME

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

IDEOLOGICAL DISPUTES

IDENTITY, CULTURE, AND IDEOLOGY

 

 

TREATMENT OF SHAME-BASED SYNDROMES

TREATMENT MODEL:

1. RESTORING INTERPERSONAL BRIDGE:

PRINCIPLES OF SECURITY, IDENTIFICATION, REPARENTING

2. RECOVERING GOVERNING SCENES:

SHAME PROFILE, IMAGERY, JOURNALING

3. HEALING SHAME:

INNER VOICES

RE-SCRIPTING SCRIPTS

TRANSFORMING SCENES

4. REGAINING EQUAL POWER

 

 

SCENE CONSTRUCTION, REACTIVATION, & TRANSFORMATION

LANGUAGE

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AFFECT                                                 IMAGERY

 

 

HEALING SHAME

1. NEW EXPERIENCES OF IDENTIFICATION

2. THERAPEUTIC TOUCHING AND HOLDING

3. REGAINING CONSCIOUS CHOICE OVER DEFENDING SCRIPTS

4. MAKING CONSCIOUS AND DISSOLVING SHAME BINDS

5. RE-SCRIPTING SELF-SHAMING SCRIPTS

6. RECOVERING GOVERNING SCENES

7. TRANSFORMING SCENES THROUGH REPARENTING IMAGERY

8. REOWNING DISOWNED PARTS OF THE SELF

9. REGAINING EQUAL POWER

 

All text copyright © 2002 by Gershen Kaufman.