Shame has been recognized since the beginning of time. However, only in the last 20 years it has become the subject of systematic research and theory development. In Shame: Interpersonal Behavior, Psychopathology, and Culture, Paul Gilbert, Bernice Andrews, and a group of some of the most eminent figures in the field, study the effect of shame on social behaviors and the adoption of social values from a number of cross-disciplinary perspectives. These include neurobiological, sociological, evolutionary, anthropological, and clinical approaches.

In Part I, the authors attempt to cover some of the core issues and current controversies concerning shame. Part II explores the role of shame on the development of the infant brain. Among other issues, the relationship between shame as a personal and interpersonal construct and stigma as a social label is discussed. Part III examines the connection between shame and psychopathology. The authors are concerned with outlining how shame can play a role not only in the formation of pathology and its manifestation but also in efforts to treat pathology. Finally, Part IV talks about the notion that shame is not just related to internal experiences but that notions of shame act as socially shared information about one's status and standing in the community. On of the most commonly reported emotions in people seeking psychotherapy, Shame will be must-reading for all clinicians and clinical researchers. With a focus on shame in the context of social behavior, the book will also appeal to a wide range of researchers in the fields of sociology, psychology, and anthropology.