Is shame the same as guilt?

[cacian]

or can the both be separated?

[cafolini]

No they are not the same. But I think guilt underwrites shame policies.

[cacian]

No they are not the same. But I think guilt underwrites shame policies.

what could a shame policy be? morality?

[Adolescent09]

Shame has familial and societal consequences ie. "He brought shame on his family or he is shameful to his political party". Guilt entails personal remorse and is often (there are exceptions; you should research them) mutually separate from societal judgement and/or consequences. Even if society does find the individual guilty, it is not the perception of others but the individual's personal attitude towards the person(s) wronged that stirs emotions of penitence. The individual who feels shame might not have any remorse for the act in question; in some cases, he might actually see the act as justified...etc.

There are tons of social psychology journal articles that delve into the differences between "shame" and "guilt" from an individual to a global scale. I've barely scratched the surface of an introductory psychology course on the subject.

[Shevek]

I find it hard to believe that you can ever separate guilt from social perceptions and expectations. You feel guilty when something weighs on your conscience, but often guilt stems from values and norms you have already internalized. Maybe the main difference lies in how shame and guilt are socially regulated. Avoiding shame relies on maintaining a social status. Avoiding guilt relies on maintaining a clean conscience.