Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transforming Shame in the Workplace, Leadership and Organisation: Contributions of Positive Psychology Movements to the Discourse

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
New Horizons in Positive Leadership and Change

Part of the book series: Management for Professionals ((MANAGPROF))

Abstract

In the twenty-first-century workforce, shame seems to be an often unconscious and neglected topic which is hardly addressed on micro-, meso- and macro-levels in different cultural contexts. Shame is generally viewed as a negative emotion which impacts negatively on the self within the context of others. Previous research has shown that shame affects individuals in organisations and needs to be addressed and transformed to impact constructively on leaders, employees and the organisation. This chapter presents an overview on relevant aspects of shame in the workplace and places it into the discourse of positive psychology (1.0) and the second wave of positive psychology (2.0).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alkire, S., & Santos, M. E. (2009). Poverty and inequality measurement. In S. Deneulin & L. Shahani (Eds.), An introduction to human development and capability approach. Freedom and agency (pp. 121–161). London: International Development Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrieux, L. (2012). Facing the ambivalence of shame issues: Exploring the use of motivational techniques to enhance shame resilience and provoke behaviour change. Submission for INSEAD executive masters thesis consulting and coaching for change. https://flora.insead.edu/fichiersti_wp/InseadEMCCCtheseswave1-10/77561.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2018

  • Andrieux, L. (2019). Facing the ambivalence of shame issues: Exploring the use of motivational techniques to enhance shame resilience and provoke behaviour change. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. 585–602). Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky, A. (1979). Health, stress and coping. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagozzi, R., Verbeke, W., & Gavino, J. (2003). Culture moderates the self-regulation of shame and its effects on performance: The case of salespersons in the Netherlands and the Philippines. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(2), 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.2.219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentley, T. (2012). Shame in organisations. Gestalt Review, 16(1), 88–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhawuk, D. P. S. (2017). lajiA in Indian psychology: Spiritual, social and literary perspectives. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 109–134). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boddy, C. R. (2011). The corporate psychopaths theory of the global financial crisis. Journal of Business Ethicas, 102, 255–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boiger, M. (2017). A cultural perspective on shame. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. vi–vii). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, S., Robertson, N. & Curtis, C. (2017). Shame and resilience: A New Zealand based exploration of resilient responses to shame. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame – exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 201–222). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. (2006). Shame resilience theory: A grounded theory study on women and shame. Families in Society, 87(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.3483

  • Buch, B. (2017). Canada/North America: Shame between indigenous nature-connectedness, colonialism and cultural disconnection. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 157–187). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulatova, J. (2014). Shame as a leadership virtue: Theoretical and practical grounds. Journal of Business Management, 8, 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clough, M. (2010). Shame and organisations. International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, 6(1), 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connor, S. (2001) The shame of being a man. http://www.stevenconnor.com/ shame. Accessed June 7, 2018

  • Deonna, J., Rodogno, R., & Teroni, F. (2012). In defense of shame. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felblinger, D. M. (2008). Incivility and bullying in the workplace and nurses’ shame responses. Journal of Gynaecological Neonatal Nursing, 37, 234–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00227.x. Accessed June 7, 2018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fincham, F. D., & Beach, S. R. H. (2010). Marriage in the new millennium: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 630–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, P., Gilbert, J., & Sanghera, J. (2004). A focus group exploration of the impact of izzat, shame, subordination and entrapment on mental health and service use in South Asian women living in Derby. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 7(2), 109–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grevenstein, H., & Cilliers, F. (2012). Followership's experiences of organisational leadership: A systems psychodynamic perspective. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 38(2). http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2071-07632012000200003

  • Gruman, J. A., Lumley, M. N., & González-Morales, M. G. (2018). Incorporating balance: Challenges and opportunities for positive psychology. Canadian Psychology, 59(1), 54–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, V., & Mendoza, C. (2011). Shame resilience: A strategy for empowering women in treatment for substance abuse. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 11(4), 375–393. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256x.2011.622193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilgers, M. (2013). Scham. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivtzan, I., Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Worth, P. (2015). Second wave positive psychology: Embracing the dark side of life. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, K., Flórez, A., Gomes, C. M., Rodriguez, D., & Achury, C. (2014). On the biological and cultural evolution of shame: Using internet search tools to weight values in many cultures. Caracas, Venezuela: Laboratorio de Evoluciòn, Universidad Simón Bolìvar. http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1401/1401.1100.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Kämmerer, A. (2010). Zur Intensität des erlebens von Schamgefühlen bei psychischen Störungen. Psychotherapie, Psychosomotik, Medizinische Psychologie, 60(7), 262–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linley, P. A., Joseph, S., Harrington, S., & Wood, A. M. (2006). Positive psychology: Past, present and (possible) future. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1, 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760500372796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Ivtzan, I. (2015). The LIFE model: A meta-theoretical conceptual map for applied positive psychology. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(5), 1347–1364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maak, T., & Pless, N. (2006). Responsible leadership in stakeholder society – A relational perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 66, 99–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mascolo, M. F., & Fischer, K. W. (1995). Developmental transformations in appraisals for pride, shame, and guilt. In J. P. Tangney & K. W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 64–113). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • May, M. (2017). Shame! A system psychodynamic perspective. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 43–60). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2011). The meaning of sense of coherence in transcultural management. Münster: Waxmann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2017). Shame—“a soul feeding emotion”: Archetypal work and the transformation of the shadow of shame in a group development process. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 277–302). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2019 in press). Transforming shame experiences in therapeutic interventions. In Wong, L. C. J., & Tam, E. M. (Eds.). (2019). The existential positive psychology of suffering: Essays in honour of Dr. Paul T. P. Wong’s 80th birthday. (p. xx-xx). Toronto, ON: INPM Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2019a). Unemployed and high achiever? Working with active imagination and symbols to transform shame. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. 463–470). Cham, CH: Springer International, p. 463–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2019b). Healing rituals to transform shame: An example of constellation work. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. 463–470). Cham, CH: Springer International, p. 521–532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2019c). Opening the black box part 1: On collective shame in the German society. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. 3–20). Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2019d). Opening the black box part 2: Exploring individual shame in German research. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. 21–34). Cham, CH: Springer International, p. 21–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Ley, L. (2016). Experiences of shame in SA organisations and higher education institutions. Conference paper, SIOPSA, 19–21 July 2016, Pretoria, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Tonelli, L. (2017). “Dream on—There is no salvation!”: Transforming shame in the South African workplace through personal and organisational strategies. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 135–156). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Vanderheiden, E. (2019a). The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts. Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Vanderheiden, E. (2019b). Calling on Shame! An Introduction to Transforming Shame. In: Mayer, C.-H. & Vanderheiden, E. (Eds.). The Bright Side of Shame. Transforming and Growing through Practical Applications in Cultural Contexts.Cham, Switzerland: Springer International, pp. xix-xxxiii.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., Viviers, R., & Tonelli, L. (2017). ‘The fact that she just looked at me...’ – Narrations on shame in South African workplaces. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology/SA Tydskrif vir Bedryfsielkunde, 43(1), a1385. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v42i1.1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oosthuizen, R. (2019). Managing shame in organisations: Don't let shame become a self-destructive spiral. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. 217–234). Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plate, M. (2015). Shame and the undoing of leadership – An analysis of shame in organisations. In C. E. J. Härtel, W. J. Zerbe, & N. M. Ashkanasy (Eds.), New ways of studying emotions in organizations (Vol. 11, pp. 81–107). London: Emerald Group Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Poulson II, C. F. (2000). Shame and work. Emotions in the workplace: Research, theory, and practice (pp. 250–271). Westport, CT: Quorum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purpora, C., Cooper, A., & Sharifi, C. (2015). The prevalence of nurses’ perceived exposure to workplace bullying and its effect on nurse, patient, organization and nursing-related outcomes in clinical settings: A quantitative systematic review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 13(9), 51–62. https://doi.org/10.11124/jbisrir-2015-2225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rantakeisu, U., Starrin, B., & Hagquist, C. (1997). Unemployment, shame and ill-health: An exploratory study. Scandinavian Journal of Social Welfare, 6, 13–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rehn, A., & Lindahl, M. (2010). Leadership and the 'right to respect' – On honour and shame in emotionally charged management settings. European Journal of International Management, 5(5), 62–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothmann, S. (2014). Flourishing in work and careers. In M. Coetzee (Ed.), Psycho-social career meta-capacities. Cham, CH: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, T. (2017). The positive function of shame: Moral and spiritual perspectives. In Vanderheiden, E. & Mayer, C.-H. (2017). The Value of Shame - Exploring a Health Resource in Cultural Contexts (pp. 87-109). Cham, Switzerland: Springer..

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, T. (2019). Transforming shame: Strategies in spirituality and prayer. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp 187–198). Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheff, T. (2013). The S-word: Shame as a key to modern societies. Global Summit on Diagnostic Alternatives. http://dxsummit.org/archives/1286

  • Scheff, T., & Retzinger, S. (1997). Shame, anger and the social bond: A theory of sexual offenders and treatment. http://www.sociology.org/content/vol003.001/sheff.html. Accessed 10 June 2018.

  • Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.55.1.5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E., Steen, T., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60, 410–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, M. (2017). Shame and psychotherapy: Theory, method and practice. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 251–276). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Starrin, B. (2016). Humiliationstudies. http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/StarrinShameHumiliationPsychiatricIllHealth.pdf. Accessed 3 June 2018.

  • Stiles, P. (2008). The negative side of motivation: The role of shame. Working paper series 07/2008. Cambridge: Judge Business School. https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/research/workingpapers/wp0807.pdf. Accessed 3 June 2018.

  • Sueda, K. (2019). Shame as a health resource for the repatriation training of Japanese returnees (kikokushijo) in Japan. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame (pp. 51–66). Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Symington, N. (2004). Narcissism: A new theory. London: Karnac.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J., & Dearing, R. (2002). Shame and guilt. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J. P. (1991). Moral affect: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 598–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tracy, J. L., & Robins, R. W. (2004). Putting the self into self-conscious emotions: A theoretical model. Psychological Inquiry, 15(2), 103–125. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1502_01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tracy, J. L., & Robins, R. W. (2008). The automaticity of emotion recognition. Emotion, 8, 81–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trevino, L. K., Brown, M. E., & Hartmann, L. P. (2003). A qualitative investigation of perceived executive ethical leadership: Perceptions from inside and outside the executive suite. Human Relations, 55, 5–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Alphen, M. (2017). Shame as a functional and adaptive emotion: A biopsychosocial perspective. In E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts (pp. 61–86). Cham, CH: Springer, International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderheiden, E. (2019). “Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me” – transforming shame through mindfulness. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame (pp. 505–521). Cham, CH: Springer International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderheiden, E., & Mayer, C.-H. (2017). The value of shame. Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts. Cham, CH: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Van Vliet, K. (2008). Shame and resilience in adulthood: A grounded theory study. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 55(2), 233–245. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.55.2.233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. T. P. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology, 52(2), 69–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. T. P. (2017). The positive psychology of shame and the positive psychology of PP2.0. Review of the Book by Elisabeth Vanderheiden and Claude-Hélène Mayer: The Value of Shame: Exploring a Health Resource in Cultural Contexts. http://www.drpaulwong.com/the-positive-psychology-of-shame-and-the-theory-of-pp20/. Accessed 8 June 2018.

  • Wong, P. T. P. (2019). Foreword: from shame to wholeness: An existential positive psychology perspective. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame. Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. v–xi). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. T. P., Ivtzan, I., & Lomas, T. (2017). Good work: A meaning-centred approach. In L. G. Oades, M. F. Steger, A. Delle Fave, & J. Passmore (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of positivity and strengths-based approaches at work (pp. 233–247). West Sussex, UK: Wiley Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, Y., & Tsai, J. L. (2007). Cultural models of shame and guilt. In A. Tracy, R. Robins, & J. Tangney (Eds.), Handbook of self-conscious emotions (pp. 201–223). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurmser, L. (2010). Die Maske der Scham. Eschborn: Klotz.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the global community of Positive Psychology scholars for their contributions and particularly Professor Paul P.T. Wong, Toronto, Canada, for advancing the field.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Claude-Hélène Mayer

  2. Institut für Therapeutische Kommunikation, Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

    Claude-Hélène Mayer

Authors
  1. Claude-Hélène Mayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA, USA

    Satinder Dhiman

  2. School of Business, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA, USA

    Joan Marques

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mayer, CH. (2020). Transforming Shame in the Workplace, Leadership and Organisation: Contributions of Positive Psychology Movements to the Discourse. In: Dhiman, S., Marques, J. (eds) New Horizons in Positive Leadership and Change. Management for Professionals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38129-5_17

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation