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.)

What's the difference between guilt and shame?

Shame and guilt may feel similar, but they drive us in opposite directions. While guilt focuses on specific actions and inspires people to make amends, shame targets the whole self, often leading to hiding and blame-shifting. Even in stigmatized groups, overcoming internalized shame requires support and re-centering on true responsibilities. Many struggle silently, as shame is rarely named out loud, even in therapy sessions.