Friday, July 31, 2026
Science

Why shame is an evolution-based defense mechanism

It is unpleasant, strange and often comes as a surprise: shame. But why do we feel it? An international study has shed new light on the emotion of shame, which has long been considered harmful. The conclusion: Shame is not merely an inconvenient feeling, but may fulfill an important function. As an...

Why shame is an evolution-based defense mechanism
Image: Phys.org
It is unpleasant, strange and often comes as a surprise: shame. But why do we feel it? An international study has shed new light on the emotion of shame, which has long been considered harmful. The conclusion: Shame is not merely an inconvenient feeling, but may fulfill an important function. As an evolution-based protective mechanism, it can help us protect our social reputation.

Originally published at Phys.org

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