Scholarly record

SHAME AS A PERSONВ’S SOCIALIZATION FACTOR IN THE CONTEXT OF PHYLOGENESIS AND ONTOGENESIS

V. P. Zeleeva, R. M. Zeleev

Abstract

The subject of the research relates to how the shame is developed in view of the human species, person’s socialization and the differentiation from other animals. Its purpose is also to identify the role of shame in the course of forming a person’s cultural system in the context of ontogenesis. Various definitions of shame are given and its distinction from fear and guilt is clarified. In addition, we discuss the origins of shame, the types of shame and the means to overcome it. We point out, that the early forms of shame in the ontological genesis and the stages of shame development in the cultural genesis are bound with historical development of a human. As the result of the research, we conclude that shame was a behavioral motivator of our ancestors as well. Shame plays an essential part in differentiation of modern type humans from the previous stage. Shame is a very early emotion controlling the person’s behavior, as shame was the reason of forced or voluntary isolation from other members of community. Shame is inherent not only in human species but in animals, as well. However, shame may manifest itself differently on various stages both in phylogenesis and in ontogenesis. From the ontogenetic perspective, the earliest emotional experience moulded personality in specific way. Personality is structured during the whole lifetime and is significantly determined by feeling of shame and guilt, defining person’s value attitude towards reality. A person develops shame and guilt feelings at the very early age, in the process of separating of a child from its mother, and subsequently in the course of identity development. These two emotions are easily mistaken for one another as a person is often afflicted by both of them simultaneously, but there is shame that affects the central identity, the very self of a person. Supposedly, shame is the result of socialization of a person’s fear for their “self”, their personality. During the research the causes of shame were compared, as well as types of its manifestation; the comparing of shame and guilt showed that the differences between them are determined by the fact, that guilt is an emotion evolving on the later stages of humankind development and is unlikely to be found in primeval society as it is bound with reflection and the rise of inner speech.

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