Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study

Shame is an unconscious, somehow unattended and neglected emotion and occurs when individual and socio-cultural norms are violated. It often impacts negatively on the self and others across cultures. During the Covid-19 crises, shame has become an important emotion with a powerful effect, depending...

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Main Authors: Claude-Hélène Mayer, Elisabeth Vanderheiden
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641076/full
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spelling doaj-b4aeda8ea28f4d33bfbf1136a5fde62b2021-06-16T16:56:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-06-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.641076641076Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International StudyClaude-Hélène Mayer0Claude-Hélène Mayer1Elisabeth Vanderheiden2Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South AfricaKulturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Europa Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt, GermanyGlobal Institute for Transcultural Research, Römerberg, GermanyShame is an unconscious, somehow unattended and neglected emotion and occurs when individual and socio-cultural norms are violated. It often impacts negatively on the self and others across cultures. During the Covid-19 crises, shame has become an important emotion with a powerful effect, depending on how it is experienced within the socio-cultural context. This article explores shame in international perspectives in the context of Covid-19 and addresses the question how shame is transformed from an existential positive psychology (PP2.0) perspective. The study uses a qualitative research paradigm and explores shame and its transformation during Covid-19. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used. The sample consisted of 24 individuals (16 female, 8 male), of 13 different nationalities. Data were collected from written interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. Ethical considerations were followed; ethical approval was given by a university. Findings show that participants become very worried, anxious, scared, sad, and shocked when they or individuals in their close relationships contracted Covid-19. Shame plays an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the meaning and experience of shame during Covid-19 is strongly dependent on the socio-cultural background of the individual who is experiencing the disease. Individuals use different strategies and mechanisms to deal with and transform shame in the context of Covid-19.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641076/fullshametransforming shameCOVID-19thematic analysispositive psychology 2.0meaning
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Claude-Hélène Mayer
Claude-Hélène Mayer
Elisabeth Vanderheiden
spellingShingle Claude-Hélène Mayer
Claude-Hélène Mayer
Elisabeth Vanderheiden
Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study
Frontiers in Psychology
shame
transforming shame
COVID-19
thematic analysis
positive psychology 2.0
meaning
author_facet Claude-Hélène Mayer
Claude-Hélène Mayer
Elisabeth Vanderheiden
author_sort Claude-Hélène Mayer
title Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study
title_short Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study
title_full Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study
title_fullStr Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study
title_full_unstemmed Transforming Shame in the Pandemic: An International Study
title_sort transforming shame in the pandemic: an international study
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Psychology
issn 1664-1078
publishDate 2021-06-01
description Shame is an unconscious, somehow unattended and neglected emotion and occurs when individual and socio-cultural norms are violated. It often impacts negatively on the self and others across cultures. During the Covid-19 crises, shame has become an important emotion with a powerful effect, depending on how it is experienced within the socio-cultural context. This article explores shame in international perspectives in the context of Covid-19 and addresses the question how shame is transformed from an existential positive psychology (PP2.0) perspective. The study uses a qualitative research paradigm and explores shame and its transformation during Covid-19. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used. The sample consisted of 24 individuals (16 female, 8 male), of 13 different nationalities. Data were collected from written interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. Ethical considerations were followed; ethical approval was given by a university. Findings show that participants become very worried, anxious, scared, sad, and shocked when they or individuals in their close relationships contracted Covid-19. Shame plays an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the meaning and experience of shame during Covid-19 is strongly dependent on the socio-cultural background of the individual who is experiencing the disease. Individuals use different strategies and mechanisms to deal with and transform shame in the context of Covid-19.
topic shame
transforming shame
COVID-19
thematic analysis
positive psychology 2.0
meaning
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641076/full
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