Shame and humiliation - Carlos Guillermo Bigliani

Shame and Humiliation explores a sub-set of universal emotions that are usually labelled as "negative" because of the sense of unease that they generate when we experience them and the tenacity with which we try to avoid them. They can thus becoming powerful instruments in the "power games" of our species, making their mark in both well-intentioned education as well as in merciless relations of oppression. Universal as they may be, though, these emotions are experienced and displayed in varied ways according to the mandates of different cultures and the vicissitudes of different socio-cultural strata. Shame and humiliation are therefore two key emotions that can cause deep suffering, as well as contribute to orient our social life. Some of the noblest and the most villainous acts are fueled by these emotions, from self-sacrifice to bloody revenge.