Cited by 751Emotions and Moral BehaviorAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesForgiveness and Related Behaviors

Embarrassment: its distinct form and appeasement functions

Keltner, Dacher, Buswell, Brenda N.·1997·Psychological Bulletin

Abstract

The authors address 2 questions about embarrassment. First, Is embarrassment a distinct emotion? The evidence indicates that the antecedents, experience, and display of embarrassment, and to a limited extent its autonomic physiology, are distinct from shame, guilt, and amusement and share the dynamic, temporal characteristics of emotion. Second, What are the theoretical accounts of embarrassment? Three accounts focus on the causes of embarrassment, positioning that it follows the loss of self-esteem, concern for others' evaluations, or absence of scripts to guide interactions. A fourth account focuses on the effects of the remedial actions of embarrassment, which correct preceding transgressions. A fifth account focuses on the functional parallels between embarrassment and nonhuman appeasement. The discussion focuses on unanswered questions about embarrassment.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.122.3.250

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11 of 11 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Humans share expressions of embarrassment with other mammals: face touching paired with downward head movements and eye gaze.

    “Likewise, humans share expressions of embarrassment with other mammals: face touching paired with downward head movements and eye gaze (Keltner, 1995;Keltner and Anderson, 2000;Keltner and Buswell, 1997).”

    From Physiological feelings (2019) · cites this paper as Keltner and Buswell, 1997

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Authors
Keltner, D., & Buswell, B. N.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Published
1997-11
Volume
122
Issue
3
Pages
250-270
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
OpenAlex
W2165773686
Cited by
751
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 52 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 34
FWCI
9.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Forgiveness and Related Behaviors
Keywords
embarrassment, shame, guilt, amusements, appeasement, self-esteem, social evaluation, scripts, transgression, autonomic physiology, emotion theory
MeSH terms
Arousal, Emotions, Facial Expression, Humans, Internal-External Control, Interpersonal Relations, Psychophysiology, Self Concept, Shame, Social Behavior

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