Title
Shame, guilt, blaming, and anger: Differences between children in Japan and the US
Abstract
Recent research and theory on shame and guilt has highlighted the “dark side to shame” in motivating harmful behavior. Although researchers recognize that cultural differences in shame exist, few studies have examined such differences. In this study of 130 fourth and fifth graders from the United States and 118 from Japan, cultural differences in anger, shame, guilt, and externalization of blame were examined. Consistent with predictions, compared to American children, Japanese children were more prone to experience shame and guilt and less likely to externalize blame. However, they also were more likely to experience anger. Directly, and indirectly through blaming, shame had much greater effects on anger among American than Japanese children. Whereas the effects were positive and significant among American children, they were negative and nonsignificant among Japanese children. Among Japanese children, it was guilt, rather than shame, that was related to anger, and in a negative manner. Findings suggest that in anger, the “dark side to shame” but also the more positive side to guilt, are moderated by cultural context.
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-009-9130-8
Keywords
shame, guilt, anger, externalization of blame, Japanese and American children
Publication Date
2009
Recommended Citation
Bear, George G., Ximena Uribe-Zarain, Maureen A. Manning, and Kunio Shiomi. "Shame, guilt, blaming, and anger: Differences between children in Japan and the US." Motivation and Emotion 33, no. 3 (2009): 229.
Journal Title
Motivation and Emotion
