I would appreciate your defininitions and comparisons.
Thanks in Advance for those of you taking the time to
offer sensible answers, for the other replies ... share
my disappointment between you ...
2006-08-11 10:49:37 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Yohan M ...
I note you remain faceless !!! ...
Speaks volumes ...
2006-08-12 09:31:10 · update #1
i think t3h1 has it backwards!
guilt is what you feel when you could have acted differently about something that had a bad outcome, and so you could have prevented this, ergo you feel guilty.
shame is what you feel when you are deeply embarrassed about something. it can be your fault or someone else's. like, if your dad is a junkie you could possibly be ashamed of that, but you wouldn't feel guilty cos it's not your fault.
2006-08-11 11:01:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both can be induced and lend themselves to be used as tools to manipulate people. But both can spring from legitimate grounds when the person has done something wrong and is repenting form his or her actions.
Shame is the embarrassment that comes along the wrong doing. It can lingers though. The wrongdoer may feel as if his or her action is printed on his or her forehead so that everybody knows who evil, mean or bad the wrongdoer is. When forgiveness is withheld the shame remains. Shame erodes the wrongdoers' reputation and undermines his or her social capital.
Guilt is the awareness of the extent of the behaviour. The wrongdoer is aware of the damage he or she inflicted and of the condition of his or her victim. Guilt should lead to confession and repentance, which are step stones towards restoration of the parties involved. Again, if forgiveness is denied, guilt will remain with its paralysing effect thus hampering the growth of the wrongdoer and poisoning the life of the victim.
2006-08-11 17:58:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As requested, here's some definitions:
Shame - A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace. A condition of disgrace or dishonor; ignominy.
Guilt - Remorseful awareness of having done something wrong. Self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing.
For comparisons, I think the difference is that you can feel shame because of guilt, but you don't normally feel guilt because of shame. If you do something you know is wrong (like breaking your aunt's valuable vase), that can lead to guilt, and then you may feel shameful because you feel guilty (such as you don't want to face her because you feel so bad and you are unsure how she will react to see you again). However, if you do something that you have no guilt over (such as if your culture has arranged marriages and you fall in love with someone that wasn't chosen for you), society or family will think is wrong and you might feel shame - but you may still not feel guilty. Good pondering question!
2006-08-11 18:04:40 · answer #3 · answered by Andrea F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shame is so bad you cant look yourself in the eye in the mirror.
When you have done something so bad and others saw it and you feel you can never live down being teased.
Guilt is like regret for something you said or did to another.
You want to feel you are justified by your actions and then you want to appologise to the person you fronted or vented on but you are on pride yet hurt like a shame but you want to stand behind your actions and you cant take them back.
Forgive others and Forgive yourself and Make peace with God
You will be OK
2006-08-11 18:03:41 · answer #4 · answered by Nina 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friends may say I am a bit daft, well ok its true but I also value my integrity, I respond authentically to authenticity, I'm generous, gregarios, emotionally supportive, tactile, verbally adept, and verbose ... blah te blah blah wellI did mention verbosity er ... la la lum te tum.. never did like filling in this bit .. I like my studies and am doing well at them, allegedly ;) ... I enjoy reading for fun it will be Terry Prachett or I'll be off in some fantasy realm, maybe off world leading the Floogyplutwotsit Empire fighting free from its maniacal oppressors or some such ...I like almost all types of music from A to ZZ Top ... If you've got this far ...My DISLIKES - - RACISM BIGOTRY CLOSE MINDED People they need not bother at all ... If you fancy a natter then just give me a shout :) ...
2006-08-11 17:53:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In my humble opinion : Guilt is where you are sorry for an act you have committed. Shame is the utter horror and unbearable embarrassment one feels when others discover your guilty act.
2006-08-11 18:04:43 · answer #6 · answered by Nikita 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shame is when you have done something which reflects on you and you have given others the opportunity to talk about you.Guilt is when your action or ommissions have affected someone else and had an impact on their life
2006-08-12 03:59:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shame is a feeling of embarrassment over something you have done. Guilt is feeling bad about something you have done.
2006-08-11 18:00:47 · answer #8 · answered by LifeChange 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question!
For me shame is something i may have done which i am not proud of and guilt is something i may have done to someone that on reflection i should not have done.
2006-08-11 18:04:23 · answer #9 · answered by Sherzade 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my definition of shame would be to steal something from some one and they found out i would be totally ashamed of my self even tho i would not dream of stealing its wrong and for guilt it would be saying no to a friend who needed help when i know i could help them and to see them walk away i would feel terribly guilty
2006-08-13 07:15:01 · answer #10 · answered by private 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋