From Shame to Guilt: The Remediation of Bullying in the US and Across Cultures

When shame becomes guilt, individuals change their focus from blaming others to acknowledging personal responsibility. This piece reports on findings showing that aspects of shame are correlated with bullying behaviors and focuses on reducing those behaviors by remediating shame. Though this study primarily tested US (individualistic) participants, these findings are compared with studies carried out in collectivistic cultures to gain greater understanding of the global implications of shame remediation in reducing bullying. In fact, it is likely that those from collectivistic cultures, who tend to experience much greater shame, would be particularly affected by moving from shame to guilt. Thus, it is important to focus on remediating shame to reduce bullying in multiple contexts. Shame prompts the desire to amend the threatened social self and improve self-esteem. Therefore, addressing and remediating shame could have a positive effect on reducing bullying. What is more, establishing an ethical climate within bullying environments that encourages mutual respect, shared responsibility, and social inclusion may be a positive step towards promoting bystander intervention when bullying occurs. Results of this study support the notion that correlates of shame established in previous research on convicts, extends to individuals with a propensity to bully others. Analysis of cross-cultural literature and US findings illuminates how shame leads to a resource-orientation though the desire for mediation and the acceptance of responsibility through guilt.

After essential cognitive reflections on shame, we need to reconnect on different levels: Body-mind-spirit-social. Reconnecting is perceived through experience. Creating safe spaces for experience of unrestrained explorative playfulness within different settings (rhythm, music, movement, breathing, body awareness, alone and in connective like-minded community) could offer new (old) ways for reconnecting on essential levels and thus accessing our inner intuitive knowledge and empowering after/through shaming.