Thom Dennis discusses the power of guilt, and the destructive nature of shame. There is no evidence to support the contention that shame as a method of punishment or to change behaviour works. In actual fact it produces more of the negative behaviour by amplifying the individual's negative view of themselves. Guilt, on the other hand encourages a change in behaviour because it emphasises the dissonance between the bad behaviour and the individual's values.
Thom Dennis discusses the power of guilt, and the destructive nature of shame. There is no evidence to support the contention that shame as a method of punishment or to change behaviour works. In actual fact it produces more of the negative behaviour by amplifying the individual's negative view of themselves. Guilt, on the other hand encourages a change in behaviour because it emphasises the dissonance between the bad behaviour and the individual's values.