Experiences of shame by race and culture: An exploratory study

This study explored experiences of shame in the context of racial and cultural belonging . Participants were a multiracial purposive sample of 11 South Africans (five females and six males, four white, two coloured, two Indian and three black Africans; in the age range between 40 to 61 years) . The participants completed a semi-structured interview on their perceptions of shame in the context of family and community . The interview data were analysed utilising interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) . Participants from all racial groups considered shame experiences primarily in relation to violation of family and community norms and values . Findings show that male white Afrikaans-speaking participants narrated shameful experiences mainly with regard to the violation of religious (Calvinist) norms and values . Furthermore, the violation of racially constructed boundaries was also likely with females with an Indian and white Afrikaans culture background . Overall, the findings suggest white Afrikaans culture to be less shaming of individuals in comparison to black, coloured, or Indian cultures . Shame beliefs appear to be culturally nuanced in their salience to members or racial-ethno groupings .