Psychological Differences in Shame vs. Guilt: Implications for Mental Health Counselors

Parker, Stephen; Thomas, Rebecca

doi:10.17744/mehc.31.3.f405217281988832

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…More importantly, they have limited capacity to soothe themselves through a self-talk process. Thus, they cannot access feelings of kindness and care vital to the healing process (Lee 2010), and they seem less able to cognitively sort out their actions (Parker and Thomas 2009). If these feelings are extremely strong, these individuals are likely to need assistance from a clinician and may not be aided by expressive writing.…”

Section: Gender Differences In Emotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shame would just be another part of that trauma that needs to be processed cognitively. However, difficulties are often encountered when treated shame exclusively from a cognitive basis and other perspectives are recommended (Lee 2009(Lee , 2010Parker and Thomas 2009). One such perspective is a social integration theory, and from it, shame could pose a problem.…”

Section: Gender Differences In Emotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Who Benefits from Pennebaker’s Expressive Writing? More Research Recommendations: A Commentary on Range and Jenkins

Stickney

2010

Sex Roles

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This manuscript is a commentary on Range and Jenkins' (2010) exploration of possible gender differences in the outcomes of Pennebaker's expressive writing paradigm. It too examines possible gender differences, but uses a different perspective and extends Range and Jenkins' work. She focuses solely on reasons outcomes might be more beneficial for men, while this commentary looks at outcomes that may favor either gender. It employs a communication and emotion framework and explores the effects of previous trauma disclosure, women's tendency to ruminate, and the congruence of written instructions and preferred communication style. Also examined are shame, an emotion associated with some traumas, socially appropriate emotion expression, and the impact of alexithymia on emotional disclosure. Research recommendations are provided.

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Section: Gender Differences In Emotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gender Differences In Emotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who Benefits from Pennebaker’s Expressive Writing? More Research Recommendations: A Commentary on Range and Jenkins

Stickney

2010

Sex Roles

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“…Whilst some might proposed that guilt is a better emotion to motivate someone out of alcohol use, since shame internally escalates to self-destruction (Parker & Thomas, 2009;Tangney & Dearing, 2004), Potter-Efron (1989) reported that guilt and shame are difficult emotions to separate and professionals struggle with recognising the difference, causing inadvertent abuse to the client in the process.…”

Section: Summary Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Counselling Psychology

2013

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Many counsellors have shared trauma experience with their clients. However, there seemed to be mixed views on how this shared experience might impact on the client and therapist. Some researchers propose that shared experience offers symbiotic healing for the client and therapist, whilst other authors propose the shared wounds are detrimental to therapy process. Despite these conflicts little seems to be known about how the counsellor experiences and views the shared relationship with the client (Doukas & Cullen, 2011;Rowan & Jacobs, 2003; Wosket, 1999). This qualitative grounded theory study investigated the views and experiences of 10 Recovering Alcoholic Counsellors (RAC) who work with alcoholic clients.The findings of the current study suggested that therapy with the alcoholic client related to the therapist managing their own recovery from alcoholism, which involved processes of building a self-identity, identifying with the client and fearing relapse.The alcoholic identity was maintained and actively used in the therapy work with the client, despite the RAC claiming long term recovery. Identifying with the client appeared to activate shame and increase a fear of relapse for the RAC. These processes appeared to affect a potential dependency on the client work. These factors were reflected to be influenced by AA philosophies, which also affected a bias towards certain therapy interventions. Potential over-identification appeared evident in protective empathic enmeshment and hostile countertransference reactions. This included a possible and concerning coercive interpretation of affording tough-love to clients, potentially causing abuse to the alcoholic client.Positive reflexive practice, self-awareness and compassionate practice were also evident. Feeling deep empathy in the shared experience was suggestive of empathic enmeshment and possible symbiotic healing processes taking place.Other benefits and issues of the shared experience are explored and discussed further. Recommendations are suggested to increase safe therapy practice for counsellors working with alcoholic clients and future research direction has been proposed.ii

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“…During the past 20 years, research examining children's discrimination and recognition of secondary emotions such as shame, guilt, and pride has received growing attention within developmental psychology (e.g., Baldwin, Baldwin, & Ewald, 2006;Barrett, 2005;Kemeny, Gruenewald, & Dickerson, 2004;Parker & Thomas, 2009;Stuewig, Tangney, Heigel, Harty, & McCloskey, 2010). Pride, for example, is often described as a positive and prosocial moral emotion associated with higher self-esteem http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2015.03.010 0022-0965/Ó 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%