These words are often used as synonyms. But in fact, shame and guilt have significant differences in the psychological and social context.
Shame is associated with a negative evaluation of the inner self. When a person experiences it, he feels “unworthy” or “inferior”. An example is when someone unknowingly offends a loved one and begins to think: “I am a bad friend” or “I do not deserve this relationship”. This feeling can cause a feeling of “smallness”, helplessness and nakedness, even if there are no real observers. Research shows that shame often leads to depression or aggression.
Guilt, unlike shame, focuses on a specific action, not on the person. In the situation described above, a person can say “I did badly” without going into self-deprecation. This feeling is associated with responsibility for the action and often motivates to improve: apologize, compensate for damage or change behavior.
