Shame and the Origins of Self-Esteem: A Jungian Approach

Shame is one of our most central feelings and a universal human characteristic. Why do we experience it? For what purpose? How can one cope with excessive feelings of shame? In an elegant exposition informed by many years of helping people understand feelings of shame, leading Jungian analyst Mario Jacoby provides a timely and comprehensive exploration of the many aspects of shame and demonstrates how it occupies a central place in our emotional experience. Dr Jacoby shows a lack of self-esteem to be at the root of excessive shame. As well as providing practical examples of how therapy can help, Dr Jacoby draws upon a wealth of historical and cultural scholarship to show how important shame is for us in both its individual and social aspects. Shame manifests itself in many ways. We may have feelings of inferiority, humiliation, shyness or embarrassment. It also makes us fearful of entering into shameful situations. In particular, we are ashamed at our public nakedness. Shame and the Origins of Self-Esteem explores how a lack of self-esteem is the root cause of a susceptibility to shame. Drawing heavily on modern infant research, Mario Jacoby shows how our feelings of self-worth are rooted in our childhood experiences and environment. Shame is also an archetypal phenomenon. We see it in Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the Jungian interpretation of the Persona, the 'soul mask'. Discussing these different shame themes, Mario Jacoby illustrates his book with many examples from Jungian practice. Shame and the Origins of Self-Esteem is the first book interpreting shame from a Jungian perspective. It will be of interest to all analysts and psychotherapists, both in practice and training. In addition, it will be helpful reading for all those for whom feelings of shame and lack of self-esteem are a problem.Jacoby, Mario is the author of 'Shame and the Origins of Self-Esteem: A Jungian Approach' with ISBN 9780415075268 and ISBN 0415075262.