Sarah Dibas Social Science
Identity and Shame: Impact of Cultural Factors on Emotional Experiences
Shame is a debilitating, self-conscious emotion associated with a number of risk factors to mental and physical health and wellbeing. Shame is experienced when an individual perceives themself to be inadequate vis-a-vis social and cultural constructs. These constructs play a significant role in how shame is both experienced and regulated, making them vital to its understanding. Still, previous studies have not accounted for the ways in which different cultural factors and intersecting identities work to produce shame and its regulation. Through the use of surveys and diverse participant groups, Sarah’s honors thesis aims to bridge this gap, taking a closer look at the role these factors play in the production, regulation, and consequences of shame.
