Shame Resilience Theory (A guide)

This blog explains in detail the shame resilience theory. It mentions ways in which shame resilience can be cultivated.

There is a lot more to discover about share resilience theory in this blog so without any further delay let’s more on the very first heading.

Shame Resilience Theory

The shame resilience theorist, Brené Brown, defines shame as “the intensely painful emotion or experience of believing that we are defective and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.”

The number one feeling that contributes to disassociation is a shame, the most poisonous of human emotions.

It’s most associated with depression, anxiety, grief, eating disorders, addiction, and ferosity. 

In just one significant exception, all human beings feel guilt, some more than others.

The shame resilience theory describes rising, self-defeating mechanisms that many individuals use to avoid experiencing the intense emotions that follow shame.

What are the Future Directions of Shame Resilience Theory?

As SRT continues to be established and enlarged from the original 2006 paper, it has been used in studies investigating the role of shame in both women and men (Van Vliet) and in childhood sexual abuse (Bryan & Albakry) as well as in a study (Rogers & Ebbeck) examining shame in gym classes (Bryan & Albakry, 2015; Rogers & Ebbeck, 2016; Van Vliet, 2008). 

Several studies have also dealt with the ideas of guilt and resilience without dealing with SRT.

They include research on the role of shame in alcoholism (Hill & Leeming) and abuse (Tummala-Narra) as well as research (Kim) on the role of shame and vulnerability in Christian carers (Hill & Leeming, 2014; Kim, 2017; Tummala-Narra et al., 2012). 

While any study that looks at the roles of shame and strength in different settings may be fascinating and important, future research should try to create  SRT, whether or not they fully agree with the theory.

A solid, coherent theory formed by continuous observation will support all shame-based study, as well as further justify these studies as well as the SRT itself.

These studies deal with the same concepts that make up SRT anyway, so it’s a natural next move that they’re beginning to deal explicitly with the theory as well.

Side Note: I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.

Cultivation of Shame Resilience

The following are some ways in which shame resilience can be cultivated: 

1. Recognizing and acknowledging personal vulnerability: both of us are vulnerable to perceptions of guilt, causing our guilt. When we notice the emotional and physical symptoms of shame, we have a chance to understand what’s going on and why, and to seek support. Conversely, when we refuse to accept remorse, we are caught off balance, we are overwhelmed with intense feelings, and we fail to understand what we feel. 
2. Raising critical awareness of social/cultural expectations: a critical awareness of shame is the ability to relate how we feel individually to society’s often contradictory and degrading expectations of us as separate entities 
3. Reaching Out Training mutually empathetic relations that make it easier to reach out to others: when we reach out for help, we may receive sympathy that is inconsistent with guilt and judgment. We understand that our most insulating interactions are often the most common. We understand that in our understanding (we normalize) we are not deficient or isolated. 
4. “Speaking shame,” with vocabulary and emotional intelligence to address and dismantle shame: by studying the language of shame, we learn to differentiate between shame, remorse, embarrassment, and humiliation. We can “name shame” by separating it from secondary emotions like anger, fear, and separation. We understand and express what we know (we demystify) with one another.

Recommended Books

The following is a list of some of the best books on shame resilience theory. Just click the book you wish to study and you will be redirected to the page form where you can access it easily.

All of these books are available on the Amazon Store.

• I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power by Brené Brown, Lauren Fortgang, et al.
• I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)( Telling the Truth about Perfectionism Inadequacy and Power)[I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BUT I][Paperback] by BreneBrown | Jan 31, 2008
• Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown and Random House Audio
• Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown  | Aug 27, 2019
• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown  | Apr 7, 2015

What does Brene Brown say about shame?

According to Brené Brown, a researcher at Houston University, shame is a “intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.”

It’s an emotion that impacts us all and forms deeply how we connect in the world.

What are shame triggers?

Persons suffering from shame appear to do one of three things — go mad, flee and cover, or pretend to be too submissive and win approval. … When someone trips one of these triggers, remember that you’re feeling embarrassed not because there’s something wrong with you, but because someone has triggered a shame.

Who is Brene Brown’s doctor?

Dr. San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Casandra Brené Brown Ph.D., LMSW (born 18 November 1965) is an instructor, educator, blogger, and host of podcasting. Brown has occupied the Brené Brown Endowed Chair at the Graduate School of Social Service, University of Houston, since 2016.

What does shame do to the brain?

Shame and guilt can cause depression, anxiety, and fear, but they are also nudging us to act better, Sznycer says.

“When we behave in a manner that we are not proud of, the brain transmits a warning that motivates us to modify our behavior.”

What is guilt vs shame?

Shame emerges from a bad self-evaluation (“I’ve done something wrong”) while shame stems from a constructive self-evaluation (“I’ve done something wrong”).

Shame is a general impression of inadequacy; guilt is a particular sense of transgression.

How does Shame affect a person?

Many individuals coping with shame fear partnerships, intimacy, and culture. Research shows that shame leads people to conceal themselves and to hide.

Individuals coping with guilt sometimes feel incompetent, frustrated, and nervous. The shame of stress, insecurity, and poor self-esteem may be a contributing factor.

This blog explained in detail the shame resilience theory. It also mentioned ways in which shame resilience can be cultivated.

If you have any questions or queries regarding this blog, let us know through your comments. We will be glad to assist you.

References 

Shame Resilience Therapy — Empowered Life, LLC

Shame Resilience Theory: How to Respond to Feelings of Shame by Joaquín Selva (2020)

Shame Resilience Theory – Positive Psychology News

Amazon.com 

Unsplash.com