About the Book
The Widening Scope of Shame is the first collection of papers on shame to appear in a decade and contains contributions from most of the major authors currently writing on this topic. It is not a sourcebook, but a comprehensive introduction to clinical and theoretical perspectives on shame that is intended to be read cover to cover.
The panoramic scope of this multidisciplinary volume is evidenced by a variety of clinically and developmentally grounded chapters; by chapters explicating the theories of Silvan Tomkins and Helen Block Lewis; and by chapters examining shame from the viewpoints of philosophy, social theory, and the study of family systems. A final section of brief chapters illuminates shame in relation to specific clinical problems and experiential contexts, including envy, attention deficit disorder, infertility, masochism, the medical setting, and religious experience.
This collection will be of special interest to psychoanalytically oriented readers. It begins with a chapter charting the evolution of Freud's thinking on shame, followed by chapters providing contemporary perspectives on the role of shame in development, and the status of shame within the theory of narcissism. Of further psychoanalytic interest are two reprinted classics by Sidney Levin on shame and marital dysfunction.
In both depth of clinical coverage and breadth of perspectives, The Widening Scope of Shame is unique in the shame literature. Readable, well organized, and completely up to date, it becomes essential reading for all students of this intriguing and unsettling emotion and of human development more generally.
Table of Contents:
Part I: Psychoanalytic Perspectives.Lansky, Morrison, The Legacy of Freud's Writings on Shame. Broucek, Shame: Early Developmental Issues Francis. Morrison, Stolorow, Shame, Narcissism, and Intersubjectivity. Michels, Rethinking Shame: Commentary on Chapters 1, 2, 3. Bacal, Shame - The Affect of Discrepancy: Commentary on Chapters 1, 2, 3. Part II: Biology, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Theory.Nathanson, Shame and the Affect Theory of Silvan Tomkins. Scheff, Retzinger, Helen Block Lewis on Shame: Appreciation and Critique. Hanson, Reasons for Shame, Shame Against Reason. Wurmser, Nietzsche's War Against Shame and Resentment. Scheff, Shame in Social Theory. Katz, The Elements of Shame. Kilborne, Hunting the (Red-Faced) Snark: Commentary on Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Part III: The Family.Levin, A Common Type of Marital Incompatibility. Levin, More About a Common Type of Incompatibility. Retzinger, Shame-Rage in Marital Quarrels. Munschauer, Shame: The Dark Shadow of Infertility. Part IV: Clinical and Religious.Lansky, Envy as Process. Nathanson, Affect Theory and the Compass of Shame. Nathanson, Attentional Disorders and the Compass of Shame. Wurmser, The Shame About Existing: A Comment About the Analysis of "Moral" Masochism. Lazare, Shame, Humiliation, and Stigma in the Medical Interview. Bader, Shame and the Resistance to Jewish Renewal.
About the Author :
Melvin R. Lansky, Andrew P. Morrison
Review :
"The Widening Scope of Shame contains important groundwork both for future discussion about the treatment of shame and for further investigation into the intersection of shame with other emotional states. Finally, the volume has the potential to inspire new considerations into how shame and shame-related phenomena can converge with culturally specific norms about gender, sex, the life cycle, class, and race." - Pauline Phipps, Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences "[T]his book offers a breadth of perspective with deep clinical understanding. Well organized and up to date, it offers contributions to the literature on an emotion - at time neglected, at other overemphasized - that nonetheless plays a vital role in regulating human interaction." - Walter F. Ricci, JAPA
