222eMotion r eGulation Handout 6  (p. 9 of 10)
Shame WorDS
shame culpability embarrassment mortification shyness
contrition discomposure humiliation self- conscious
prompting e vents for f eeling Shame
••Being rejected by people you care about.
••Having others find out that you have done 
something wrong.
••Doing (or feeling or thinking) something that people you admire believe is wrong or immoral.
••Comparing some aspect of yourself or your behavior to a standard and feeling as if you do not live up to that standard.
••Being betrayed by a person you love.
••Being laughed at/made fun of.
••Being criticized in public/in front of someone else; remembering public criticism.
••Others attacking your integrity.••Being reminded of something wrong, immoral, or “shameful” you did in the past.
••Being rejected or criticized for something you expected praise for.
••Having emotions/experiences that have been invalidated.
••Exposure of a very private aspect of yourself or your life.
••Exposure of a physical characteristic you dislike.
••Failing at something you feel you are (or should be) competent to do.
••Other:  
interpretations of e vents That p rompt f eelings of Shame
••Believing that others will reject you (or have rejected you).
••Judging yourself to be inferior, not “good 
enough,” not as good as others; self-  
invalidation.
••Comparing yourself to others and thinking 
that you are a “loser.”
••Believing yourself unlovable.
••Thinking that you are bad, immoral, or wrong.