Season 3 Episode 10: Shame, Blushing, and Guilt

 

modified image from Bridgeman Art Library

Mark, Sarah, and James discuss the last technical chapter of Charles Darwin's The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals, Chapter XIII:  Self Attention, Shame, Shyness, Modesty: Blushing. Mark Jackson's graduate research was on shame and guilt and he explained to us the difference between shame, guilt, embarrassment, and humiliation (a concept Darwin did not address) and why they are actually distinctly different emotions. In our discussion Mark explains why parents and teachers should not shame their children/students, but employ guilt, the gift that keeps on giving, if a change in behavior is what you seek.

Darwin recognized blushing as a very distinct human behavior. In the chapter Darwin wrote:

In most cases the face, ears and neck are the sole parts which redden; but many persons, whilst blushing intensely, feel that their whole bodies grow hot and tingle; and this shows that the entire surface must be in some manner affected. Blushes are said sometimes to commence on the forehead, but more commonly on the cheeks, afterwards spreading to the ears and neck

We discussed the adaptive value of the blush as an honest signal that is exhibited in all humans, regardless of their skin color. Some of the studies we discuss indicated that when people see another blushing after being involved in a transgression or a mishap, the observer is more likely to give them sympathy or see them in a more positive light than if the person has a guilty or expression of shame without the blush.  Sarah discussed James' proclivity to blushing, and her warped sense of fun in making him blush. 

Some papers we referenced

Dijk, Corine, Peter J. De Jong, and Madelon L. Peters. "The remedial value of blushing in the context of transgressions and mishaps." Emotion 9.2 (2009): 287.

Feinberg, Matthew, Robb Willer, and Dacher Keltner. "Flustered and faithful: Embarrassment as a signal of prosociality." Journal of personality and social psychology 102.1 (2012): 81.

Jackson, Mark A. Distinguishing shame and humiliation. Diss. University of Kentucky, 1999.

The opening and closing theme to Discovering Darwin is "May" by Jared C. Balogh.

Interlude music Too Shy by Kajagoogoo