Abstract
This chapter presents a formulation of the essential lived structure of being-ashamed derived from an empirical-phenomenological analysis of the descriptions of various subjects’ situated experiences of the phenomenon. The research project and its results, from which this chapter is derived, were originally reported in my doctoral dissertation (Vallelonga, 1986). It has been ten years since that dissertation was completed and defended, and at least 12 books have been written on shame in the interim (Albers, 1995; Bradshaw, 1988; Broucek, 1991; Fossum & Mason, 1986; Harper & Hoopes, 1990; Kaufman, 1989; Lewis, 1992; Middleton-Moz, 1990; Nathanson, 1992; Nichols, 1991; Potter-Efron, 1989; Tangney & Fischer, 1995). Given the publication of so many books (not to mention articles) on the topic, the reader may legitimately ask if there is anything left to say about this phenomenon. There is much to say!
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Albers, R. H. (1995). Shame: A faith perspective. New York: Haworth.
Ausubel, D. P. (1955). Relationships between shame and guilt in the socializing process. Psychological Review, 62, 378–390.
Becker, C. (1968). An explication of embarrassment and shame within a situation of interpersonal exposure. Unpublished master’s thesis, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Benedict, R. (1946). The chrysanthemum and the sword: Patterns of Japanese culture. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
Bradshaw, J. E. (1988). Healing the shame that binds you. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Broucek, F. J. (1991). Shame and the self New York: Guilford Press.
Buss, A. H. (1980). Self-consciousness and social anxiety. San Francisco, CA: Freeman.
Dann, O. T. (1977). A case study of embarrassment. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 25, 453–470.
Darwin, C. R. (1965). The expression of the emotions in man and animals. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Davitz, J. (1969). The language of emotions. New York: Academic Press.
Edwards, D. G. (1976). Shame and pain and “Shut up or I’ll really give you something to cry about.” Clinical Social Work Journal, 4, 3–13.
Emde, R. N., & Oppenheim, D. (1995). Shame, guilt and the Oedipal drama: Developmental considerations concerning morality and the referencing of critical others. In J. P. Tangney & K. W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 413–436). New York: Guilford Press.
Fell, J. P. (1965). Emotion in the thought of Sartre. New York: Columbia University Press.
Fischer, K. W., & Tangney, J. P. (1995). Self-conscious emotions and the affect revolution: Framework and overview. In J. P. Tangney & K. W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 3–22). New York: Guilford Press.
Fischer, W. F. (1974). On the phenomenological mode of researching “being anxious.” Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 4, 405–423.
Fischer, W. F. (1989). An empirical-phenomenological investigation of being anxious: An example of the phenomenological approach to emotion. In R. S. Valle & S. Halling (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological perspectives in psychology: Exploring the breadth of human experience (pp. 127–136). New York: Plenum Press.
Fossum, M. A., & Mason, M. J. (1986). Facing shame: Families in recovery. New York: Norton.
Freud, S. (1953a). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. In J. Strachey (Ed. and Trans.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud. Volume 7 (pp. 123–243). London: Hogarth.
Freud, S. (1953b). The interpretation of dreams. In J. Strachey (Ed.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud. Volumes 4 & 5. London: Hogarth.
Freud, S. (1962). Further remarks on the neuropsychoses of defense. In J. Strachey (Ed.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud: Volume 3 (pp. 157–185). London: Hogarth.
Friesen, V. I. (1979). On shame and the family. Family Therapy, 6, 39–58.
Giorgi, A. (1975). An application of phenomenological method in psychology. In A. Giorgi, C. T. Fischer & E. L. Murray (Eds.), Duquesne studies in phenomenological psychology: Volume 2 (pp. 82–103). Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press.
Harper, J. M., & Hoopes, M. H. (1990). Uncovering shame: An approach integrating individuals and their family systems. New York: Norton.
Isenberg, A. (1949). Natural pride and natural shame. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 10, 1–24.
Izard, C. E. (1977). Human emotions. New York: Plenum Press.
Kaufman, G. (1974). The meaning of shame: Toward a self-affirming identity. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 21, 568–574.
Kaufman, G. (1989). The psychology of shame: Theory and treatment of shame-based syndromes. New York: Springer.
Laing, R. D. (1965). The divided self: An existential study in sanity and madness. Baltimore: Penguin.
Lewis, H. B. (1971). Shame and guilt in neurosis. New York: International Universities Press.
Lewis, M. (1992). Shame: The exposed self. New York: Free Press.
Lewis, M. (1995). Embarrassment: The emotion of self-exposure and evaluation. In J. P. Tangney & K. W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 198–218). New York: Guilford Press.
Lindsay-Hartz, J. (1984). Contrasting experiences of shame and guilt. American Behavioral Scientist, 27, 689–704.
Lindsay-Hartz, J., de Rivera, J., & Mascolo, M. F. (1995). Differentiating guilt and shame and their effects on motivation. In J. P. Tangney & K. W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 274–300). New York: Guilford Press.
Lynd, H. M. (1958). On shame and the search for identity. New York: Harcourt, Brace.
Mascolo, M. F., & Fischer, K. W. (1995). Developmental transformations in appraisals for pride, shame, and guilt. In J. P. Tangney & K. W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 64–113). New York: Guilford Press.
Mead, M. (1950). Some anthropological considerations concerning guilt. In M. L. Reymert (Ed.), Feelings and emotions (pp. 362–373). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962). Phenomenology of perception. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Middleton-Moz, J. (1990). Shame and guilt: Masters of disguise. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Miller, S. (1985). The shame experience. Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.
Morano, D. V (1973). Existential guilt: A phenomenological study. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press.
Nathanson, D. L. (1992). Shame and pride: Affect, sex, and the birth of the self. New York: Norton.
Nichols, M. P. (1991). No place to hide: Facing shame so we can find self-respect. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Potter-Efron, R. T. (1989). Shame, guilt and alcoholism: Treatment issues in clinical practice. New York: Haworth.
Riezler, K. (1943). Comment on the social psychology of shame. American Journal of Sociology, 48, 457–465.
Sattler, J. M. (1965). A theoretical development and clinical investigation of embarrassment. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 71, 19–59.
Scheler, M. (1957). Ueber Scham und Schamgefuehl. Schriften aus dem Nachlass. Gesammelte Werke: Volume 10. Bern: Verlag Francke.
Schneider, C. D. (1977). Shame, exposure and privacy Boston: Beacon Press.
Shaver, J. H. (1976). The feeling of shame. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Solomon, R. C. (1976). The passions. Garden City, NY: Anchor/Doubleday.
Stierlin, H. (1974). Shame and guilt in family relations: Theoretical and clinical aspects. Archives of General Psychiatry, 30, 381–389.
Straus, E. W. (1966). Shame as a historiological problem. In Phenomenological psychology: Selected papers (pp. 217–224). New York: Basic Books.
Tangney, J. P., & Fischer, K. W. (Eds.). (1995). Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride. New York: Guilford Press.
Tomkins, S. S. (1963). Affect/imagery/consciousness. Volume 2: The negative affects. New York: Springer.
Vallelonga, D. S. (1986). The lived structures of being-embarrassed and being-ashamed-of-oneself: An empirical phenomenological study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
von Eckartsberg, R. (1977). Psychological research methods at Duquesne. Unpublished manuscript, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Vallelonga, D.S. (1998). An Empirical-Phenomenological Investigation of Being-Ashamed. In: Valle, R. (eds) Phenomenological Inquiry in Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0125-5_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0125-5_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-45543-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0125-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive