Name: What's the difference between guilt and shame?
Uploaded: 2021-05-11T15:38:47Z
Duration: 8 min 22 s
Description: We all experience feelings of guilt or shame at some point. What should we do with them? Clinical psychologist June Tangney differentiates between constructive guilt and crippling shame so that we can learn to better identify and manage our feelings. (This video is part of TED's "How to Deal with Difficult Feelings" series.)

We all experience feelings of guilt or shame at some point. What should we do with them? Clinical psychologist June Tangney differentiates between constructive guilt and crippling shame so that we can learn to better identify and manage our feelings. (This video is part of TED's "How to Deal with Difficult Feelings" series.)

June Tangney: What's the difference between guilt and shame?

What's the difference between guilt and shame?

Distinguishing shame from guilt reveals profound impacts: shame engulfs the self, while guilt targets behavior, guiding reparative actions.

Guilt inspires constructive actions like apologies and amends, contrasting sharply with the paralyzing effects of shame.

Understanding the distinction between guilt and shame empowers us to address missteps constructively and foster self-compassion.