Bien, John Elijah N.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology | 2022 | 211D

Shame Resilience Theory: A Grounded Theory Study on Women and Shame | Brené Brown

9/10/2022
According to Dr. Brené Brown's Shame Resilience Theory, connecting with your genuine self and
exercising meaningful relationships with others are key components: Empathy must be developed in
order to stray beyond shame and diminish its insidious repercussions.

But for the Shame Resilience Theory to be relevant, we first need to define what “shame” is: Shame is,
to put it simply, the fear of disconnecting. For our existence as humans is based on connection, we find
meaning and purpose by forming vehement social interrelation; being perceived by others is pertinent in
order for a meaningful connection to be mutually shared.

The concept of shame, I daresay, is very much universal—but more severe repercussions of the notion,
quite unfortunately, are bequeathed upon women by society (usually generated from social/cultural
expectations that are enforced by individuals/groups and supported by media culture).

It is very apparent that these categories are where women experience shame the greatest: sexuality, family,
motherhood, parenting, professional identity, aging, religion, speaking up, and overcoming trauma. Other
categories include appearance and body image, sexuality, family, motherhood, and parenting. The
"unwanted identities" connected to each of these themes make women more susceptible to shame in these
contexts. For instance, many women pointed to words like pushy and loud-mouth as undesirable traits
connected to speaking up.

In the Philippines, a predominantly Christian country, tethered with a society that vehemently exudes
value in tradition and religious conformity—the concept of Dr. Brené Brown's Shame Resilience Theory
becomes all the more prominent (most specifically to women). As it is with almost any populace that
maintains a tight social/cultural grip on how people should act—women typically absorb the brunt of the
blow: Constantly being expected to exude interest in parenting and starting a family; being tasked with
the obligation of being a caring, vigilant mother; being expected to attain a worthwhile professional
identity; and generally just being bombarded with a volley of ambitious outlooks—while at the same
time, being indirectly pressured to maintain a satisfactory appearance, body image, and woman-like
allure (quite superficial if I do say so).

Upon realizing what local women have to go through as they plod through a society rife with unrealistic
expectations and a constrained interpretation of how females should act—in accordance with the jagged
construct provided by a demanding society—I find it all the more pertinent for psychology to be exercised
and propagated in the country (Philippines). Not only can psychology aid in both interpersonal and
intrapersonal welfare, it may also passively diminish the unfairness of societal expectations and
promulgate both open-mindedness and impartiality—greatly undermining the strain of cultural
quandaries for women.

Dr. Brené Brown, author of the research paper, quite obviously possesses the mastery of determining
psychological complications and is very much capable of providing satisfactory mental augmentations
for the purpose of diminishing further intrapersonal and societal quagmires—as was portrayed in the
professionalism of her research regarding Shame Resilience Theory.

For a student like me, with surface-level proficiency pertaining to the discipline of psychology, it would
be completely obsolete and insulting to Dr. Brown’s extensive wisdom to be “supplemented” with my
so-called “knowledge,” as her research, quite frankly, I perceive to be of extreme help in the world of
Filipino psychology—a conduit for the development and propagation of the discipline.

[Article Analysis submitted to Mr. Ron Gabriel A. Peji]

 References

Center, I. L. (2022, August 23). Shame Resilience. Integrative Life Center. Retrieved September 10,

2022, from https://integrativelifecenter.com/shame-

resilience/#:%7E:text=The%20Theory%20of%20Shame%20Resilience,-

According%20to%20Brown&text=Shame%20triggers%20vary%20by%20person,empathy%2C%20fre

edom%2C%20and%20power.

Sutton, J., PhD. (2022, August 12). Shame Resilience Theory: Advice From Brené Brown.

PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022, from https://positivepsychology.com/shame-

resilience-theory/