Experiencing Shame: A Qualitative Analysis of Shame Narratives.

Shame is a painful self-conscious emotion that is closely associated with psychological distress. This article presents the results of a qualitative analysis of the spontaneous shame narratives of 40 young adults (mean age = 25.2). The main themes that were identified in the participants' shame narratives are explored and described, and the authors also explore the connection between feeling shame and having a traumatic experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]