What causes shame?
If an individual violates a community’s values, the community may distance itself from the individual or otherwise shut the individual off from the benefits of being a member of the community. Families “disown” , friends “disassociate,” religions “excommunicate,” and governments “incarcerate” wayward members in order to punish unacceptable behavior. An individual’s anticipation of the community’s disapproval causes shame. (e.g. If my Mother or Father knew that I stole their money to buy drugs they would be so disappointed.) Alternatively, a community that expels a member or weakens a member’s ties may cause shame because that person was rejected. (e.g. When the college found out that he was the peeping Tom, they told him to leave the school.
