The Genesis?

• Reintegrative shaming praised by Rich Kuyper, 1/30/97
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    • Yes, Work Stress Is the Euphemism That Propogates Self-Shaming in the Work System by c.h., 2/2/97
      
      

Haven't had time to read all of the above, so I'm leaping into the stream with ignorance written all over my face! No "shame," here--just lack of information.

It seems to me that there is such a thing as real shame which is appropriately the result of real guilt. If that is true, the elimination of this kind of shame can only be accomplished through confession, acceptance of forgiveness, expiation, and altered behavior. I do not believe that real shame can be imposed by external sources, but may be precipitated by external "reminders" of one's guilt.

I think that O. Hobart Mowrer (in his work on psychiatry and religion--can't remember the exact title) spent some time discussing the difference between real and false/neurotic guilt. If he hasn't been discounted, perhaps his thoughts might be useful in dealing with the issue of workplace shame. Oden's "The Structure of Awareness" may also be relevant in dealing with this matter of real guilt.

Going way out on the twig, I offer the proposition that folks presenting in the therapist's office with symptoms seemingly related to workplace abuse may or may not have been actually abused. Case-wise, I have found incidents of both scenarios, the latter being powerful examples of transference and other unconscious phenomena too complicated to outline here.

What think you?

-- Lee

• Propose We Move Workplace Issues Out of This Forum by c.h., 2/26/97
  • No, Chauncey, Don't Go!! by Don Nathanson, 2/26/97