I think the usual definitions for guilt and shame are that guilt is falling short of your own standards, while shame is falling short of other people’s standards. I’m not sure that they’re so wildly different in effect—I think a lot of what people feel guilt about is standards which were trained in early. And the definitions don’t tell you much, if anything, about the quality of the standards.
I’m not sure that they’re so wildly different in effect—I think a lot of what people feel guilt about is standards which were trained in early.
Shame (seems to) have more of a sedative effect than guilt. This is unsurprising given that avoiding attention temporarily is typically a good strategy when people are already successful at shaming you. “Digging yourself out of a hole” is ridiculously hard no matter how virtuous you act.
I think the usual definitions for guilt and shame are that guilt is falling short of your own standards, while shame is falling short of other people’s standards. I’m not sure that they’re so wildly different in effect—I think a lot of what people feel guilt about is standards which were trained in early. And the definitions don’t tell you much, if anything, about the quality of the standards.
Shame (seems to) have more of a sedative effect than guilt. This is unsurprising given that avoiding attention temporarily is typically a good strategy when people are already successful at shaming you. “Digging yourself out of a hole” is ridiculously hard no matter how virtuous you act.