Advancing shame competence to transform individuals, teams, & organizations
Why do we study and work with shame?
Shame is a negative self-conscious emotion that occurs when we feel inadequate, flawed, or unworthy. It makes us feel negatively judged by--or less than--others.
Shame is the 'master emotion.'
Shame evolved for a reason: we need it in a functioning society, and it regulates our social behaviors in meaningful ways. Shame is an emotion to be engaged with, not avoided or denied.
Shame can be destructive.
Despite its prosocial potential, shame can fuel intrapersonal distress, impair relationships, undermine psychological safety, and reinforce inequity. These tendencies create significant challenges within organizations, especially when shame is wielded as a tool to reinforce hierarchies, exert power, or control others.
Shame can be hidden behind challenging behaviors.
Shame is painful and itself taboo. Accordingly, people engage in behaviors to avoid or repress it, including withdrawing, blaming, attacking, and self-harm. These behaviors may drive intrapersonal distress, interfere with relationships, and provoke defensive responses from others.
Shame is a distributed emotion.
Shame is a uniquely individualized emotion: no two people will experience it in the same way. However, its presence and effects are found throughout an organization: in relationships, in teams, in the culture, and in the practices, policies, and material conditions that form its structure.
Its presence must be addressed at each of these levels.
Its presence must be addressed at each of these levels.
Addressing the role of shame in organizations requires nuance, expertise, empathy, and evidence. It requires shame competence.
What can shame competent people do?
Explore our training resources to see how we are bringing shame competence to organizations
Learn about the research we're doing to better understand shame and its impacts
Get to know us!
The Shame Lab is 3+ years in the making. Learn about who we are, how we started, and why we are so passionate about our work.
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