![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Shame vs Guilt
Apr. 15th, 2019 02:54 amWhile I am capable of feeling both guilt and embarassment, I seem almost incapable of shame, a fact for which I am extremely glad.
What do I mean by saying I am capable of guilt but not shame? Well, as I understand, guilt is what people feel when they don't measure up to their own moral code, but shame is what they feel when they don't measure up to the moral code of others. The problem with shame, from my perspective, is people can feel it over any of society's incredibly popular but questionable mores. It seems to deeply impact people's sense of self worth, without actually having to be related to any real wrongdoing. It seems like people can cause someone to feel shame even for evil reasons, and even if the person being shamed knows the reasoning behind the shaming is evil. It seems too easy a power for the strong to exert over the weak, and too easy to be turned to the purposes of abuse and control.
What do I mean by saying I am capable of guilt but not shame? Well, as I understand, guilt is what people feel when they don't measure up to their own moral code, but shame is what they feel when they don't measure up to the moral code of others. The problem with shame, from my perspective, is people can feel it over any of society's incredibly popular but questionable mores. It seems to deeply impact people's sense of self worth, without actually having to be related to any real wrongdoing. It seems like people can cause someone to feel shame even for evil reasons, and even if the person being shamed knows the reasoning behind the shaming is evil. It seems too easy a power for the strong to exert over the weak, and too easy to be turned to the purposes of abuse and control.