The Changing Faces of Shame

When a tradition of individualism trumps or §dominates other interpretations of experience and §imposes itself across cultural differences, then it §may be called an ideology. Ideology is defined as a §pervasive and largely unquestioned pattern of §thought that is imposed upon experience regardless §of differences in time, context or culture. This §book will argue that interpretations of shame §experiences may be called ideological when a certain §western interpretation is imposed upon culturally §different experiences and used unquestionably. §This book will articulate a different understanding §of shame from a symbolic interactionist perspective §and one that is compatible with Korean culture. An §indigenous cultural psychology is suggested and §placed in conversation with a Korean interpretation §of theology. Drawing upon an indigenous Korean §cultural psychology and theology enables a different §and relevant articulation of shame experience. From §this conversation can come an indigenous Korean §culture approach for pastoral care and counseling.