Shame

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/shame

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical context?Historically linked to honor, reputation, and social control, with evolving cultural interpretations
2. What is the mental health correlate?Strongly associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders
3. What is shame and how is it different from guilt?Shame is when you feel small and embarrassed about yourself. It is different from guilt, which is about a specific action you did.
4. Why do people feel shame when they think they are not good enough?Shame comes from thinking you are not good enough and feeling like you are defective. It makes you want to hide or disappear.

Existential Dread: A deep-seated feeling of anxiety or unease about the meaning or purpose of life.
Phenomenology: The study of subjective conscious experience and how things appear to us.
Self-Compassion: Treating oneself with kindness, understanding, and acceptance, especially during difficult times.