Guilt and shame

What this video is about

This video explains guilt and shame, two emotions known as self-conscious emotions because feeling them requires awareness of how others perceive us. Both involve a negative value judgement about oneself, which need not be conscious, and they are considered complex emotions because they require a certain development of self-awareness. It also notes that they have been little studied, as they do not lend themselves to direct observation in the way other, more physiological emotions do.

The video describes their differences. Shame arises from a global negative evaluation of oneself, is experienced as exposure to others’ judgement and creates a desire to flee or disappear. Guilt, by contrast, refers to a specific action and its impact on another person, is more private and prompts us to apologise and make amends. According to the studies discussed, guilt is more associated with empathy and shame with anger, hostility and resentment.

Finally, it argues that both emotions are useful: guilt helps us anticipate and repair harm, and shame serves a self-regulating function. It mentions that when guilt turns into repetitive rumination, it is an issue that is often addressed in therapy.

Topics: guilt, shame, self-conscious emotions, empathy