The Science of Shame

<p>Systemic racism isn&rsquo;t anything new, but many white people are newly grappling with their complicity in white supremacy &mdash; which can lead to some complicated emotions. While a healthy dose of guilt over the collective role in anti-Black racism can motivate people to listen, learn, and do better, experts say wallowing in shame could accomplish the opposite.</p> <p>Both guilt and shame stem from a perceived sense of wrongdoing, but understanding the difference can affect your ability to disengage from damaging behaviors.&nbsp;<a href="https://themonkeytherapist.com/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Jena Field</a>, a London-based psychologist, says guilt is focused on a behavior &mdash; that&rsquo;s why researchers call guilt a &ldquo;<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-11309-001" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">moral and adaptive emotion</a>&nbsp;&rdquo;&mdash; while shame is focused on the wrongdoer&rsquo;s identity.</p> <p><a href="https://elemental.medium.com/the-science-of-shame-e1cb32f6f2a"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>
Tags: Science Shame