Shame and self-conscious emotions in Japan and Australia: Evidence for a third shame logic

Abstract

Few studies have examined the more nuanced experiential facets of self-conscious emotion from a cross-cultural perspective. The present study’s aim was to investigate shame and embarrassment experiences in relation to shame logics (or appraisals), shame antecedents and intensity across cultures in Australia and Japan, drawing on Fessler’s Dual Logics Model of Shame ( Fessler, 2004 ), and applying a new instrument (The Self-Conscious Emotion Questionnaire). There were 157 participants from two cultures, Japan (75) and Australia (82) who completed both paper-based and web-based questionnaires. Previous findings showing a higher experienced shame intensity found in Japan were corroborated across all shame and embarrassment logics. While the logic of ‘norm non-conformity’ was the strongest logic in both cultures, the logic of ‘status lowness’ was prominent in Japan but not Australia, and the novel logic of ‘broken positive assumptions about the self’ was prominent in both cultures. Shame in Japan appeared to be stronger with an introspective ‘eyes of self’ but explicitly described trigger, whereas in Australia, it was more publicly ‘eyes of other’ and implicitly induced counter to some expectations. Findings support the Self-Conscious Emotion Questionnaire as an instrument for exploring nuanced aspects of self-conscious emotion in cross-cultural research and lend support to a novel third logic of ‘broken positive assumptions about the self’ in both Australian and Japanese samples.

Specificity in the Study of Mixed Emotions: A Theoretical Framework

“…Speculatively, conflicts in self-control appraisals may thus play a larger role in eliciting mixed emotions among Americans but not Japanese. Other evidence suggests that status-related appraisals were relevant for shame among Japanese but not Australians (Thomas et al, 2020), while appraisals of personal control were relevant for the emotion of “amae” among Americans but not among Japanese (Niiya et al, 2006). While no evidence as yet has focused on specific mixed emotions, these findings imply the possibility that certain appraisal dimensions could be more predictive of specific mixed emotions in certain cultures and less strongly in other cultures.…”

“…While no evidence as yet has focused on specific mixed emotions, these findings imply the possibility that certain appraisal dimensions could be more predictive of specific mixed emotions in certain cultures and less strongly in other cultures. For example, given the relevance of status-based appraisals for shame in Japan (Thomas et al, 2020), mixed emotion pairings such as “pride-shame” could be more likely to involve conflicting status appraisals in Japan than in other cultures.…”

The Zone and the Shame: Narratives of Gambling Problems in Japan

“…Shame is a complex emotion, its meaning ranging from embarrassment to humiliation. It is often associated with failure and a negative self-image (Scheff, 2003;Thomas et al, 2020). Shame is present in all interactions, serving its purpose by controlling our behaviors and instilling in us an idea of how we should behave (Rose, 1999).…”

Introducing Syntheses

“…Methodological advancements are tantamount at Culture & Psychology . For example, our journal does not reject the publication of quantitative work at its face value – a variety of studies throughout the journal’s history have incorporated quantitative analysis in its work (Bertoldo & Castro, 2019; Fasoli, 2017; Matsumoto, 2006; McShane et al, 2009; Thomas et al, 2020; Wołońciej et al, 2021). Instead, the challenge for all authors is to ensure that their methodology is appropriate for the construct and phenomenon under investigation, and that it is up to the author to be able to argue for the validity of its use.…”