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 we cope with excessive feelings of shame?In an elegant exposition informed by many years of helping people to understand feelings of shame, leading Jungian analyst Mario Jacoby provides a timely and comprehensive exploration of the many aspects of shame and shows how it occupies a central place in our emotional experience. Jacoby shows a lack of self-esteem is often at the root of excessive shame. As well as providing practical examples of how therapy can help, 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.

Mario Jacoby is a training analyst, lecturer and member of the Curatorium of the C. G. Jung Institute in Zurich. He is the author of Numerous Articles and Books in Analytical Psychology Such as Individuation and Narcissism, Longing for Paradise and The Analytical Encounter.

Foreword. The Phenomenology of Shame and Shame-Anxiety. The Psychological Meaning of Shame. The Feeling of Self Esteem. The Psychogenesis of Shame and Susceptibility to Shame.Variations on the Experience of Shame. Motifs of Shame in the Therapeutic Relationship. Psychotherapy with Problems of Self-esteem and Susceptibility to Shame.