The politics of shame has been an effective tool for social control throughout human history. It is a way to enforce morals and values that society deems appropriate. Shame can be used to create fear and guilt, which leads people to conform to societal norms.
There are also moral mechanisms at work that influence how individuals respond to this pressure. These mechanisms include self-regulation, cognitive dissonance, identity formation, and internalized oppression. In this article, I will explore each of these concepts and examine their role in shaping political discourse around shame.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation refers to the ability to monitor and regulate one's own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This process involves setting goals, planning strategies to achieve them, evaluating progress towards those goals, and adjusting actions as necessary. When it comes to political issues related to sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, or relationships, individuals may feel ashamed because they do not meet certain standards set by their culture.
If a person engages in premarital sex, they may feel guilty due to cultural expectations about chastity and purity. To cope with this feeling of guilt, they may use self-regulatory techniques such as rationalization, denial, or avoidance. Rationalization involves justifying oneself to others or oneself; denial involves ignoring the reality of one's actions; avoidance involves withdrawing from situations where one feels judged or criticized.
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual experiences conflicting beliefs or values.
Someone who has had premarital sex but believes in traditional gender roles may experience cognitive dissonance. They may attempt to reconcile this conflict by changing their behavior (e.g., marrying quickly) or by changing their belief system (e.g., accepting that their behavior was acceptable). In some cases, they may even try to change the situation so that their behavior aligns better with their beliefs (e.g., seeking professional help for problematic behaviors). The concept of cognitive dissonance is important because it shows how people can be persuaded to conform to societal norms through shame. By making individuals feel guilty, shaming tactics create a sense of unease that pushes them towards compliance.
Identity Formation
Identity formation refers to the process of creating a sense of self based on social, cultural, and personal factors. When it comes to political issues around sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, or relationships, identity formation can play a role in shaping attitudes and behaviors.
If a person identifies strongly with certain religious beliefs about sexual morality, they may be more likely to adhere to those beliefs in their own life.
Others may resist these norms due to a sense of rebellion or desire for freedom. Identity formation is important because it highlights the ways that individuals negotiate their place within society. Shame-based politics can be used to reinforce existing power structures by forcing individuals to internalize oppressive messages about their bodies, desires, and relationships.
Internalized Oppression
Internalized oppression occurs when an individual adopts negative attitudes and beliefs about themselves based on their membership in a marginalized group. This can happen when someone grows up in a culture where sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, or relationships are stigmatized. As a result, they may come to believe that their own behavior is wrong or immoral, leading to feelings of guilt and shame. These emotions can lead to self-policing and conformity, even though the beliefs underlying this conformity may not align with one's true values. Internalized oppression is significant because it shows how shame-based politics can impact individuals at the deepest levels of their being. It also demonstrates how shaming tactics can perpetuate systemic inequality and discrimination.
How does the politics of shame reveal moral mechanisms of social control?
Shame is an integral part of political discourse that can serve as a powerful tool for establishing social norms and standards of behavior. It involves the perception of having done something wrong, undesirable, or immoral, which can be used by authorities to regulate the actions of individuals and groups in society. The politics of shame can reveal moral mechanisms of social control through various methods such as stigmatization, scapegoating, and punishment.