Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Embarrassment: its distinct form and appeasement functions

D Keltner1, B N Buswell

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley 94720-1650, USA. keltner@socrates.berkeley.edu

Psychological Bulletin
|November 14, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Embarrassment is a distinct emotion with unique triggers and expressions, separate from shame or guilt. Several theories explain its causes, effects, and functional role in social interactions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Love and the commitment problem in romantic relations and friendship.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2001
Same author

Who attains social status? Effects of personality and physical attractiveness in social groups.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2001
Same author

Fear, anger, and risk.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2001
Same author

Just teasing: a conceptual analysis and empirical review.

Psychological bulletin·2001
Same author

Expressions of positive emotion in women's college yearbook pictures and their relationship to personality and life outcomes across adulthood.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2001
Same author

Gender differences in self-esteem: a meta-analysis.

Psychological bulletin·1999

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Emotion Research

Background:

  • Embarrassment is a common social emotion.
  • Its precise nature and theoretical underpinnings require clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if embarrassment constitutes a distinct emotion.
  • To review and categorize existing theoretical accounts of embarrassment.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of embarrassment with related emotions (shame, guilt, amusement).
  • Synthesis and categorization of diverse theoretical perspectives on embarrassment.

Main Results:

  • Embarrassment exhibits distinct antecedents, experiences, displays, and some autonomic physiological markers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Evidence supports embarrassment as a unique emotional experience.
  • Five theoretical accounts were identified, focusing on causes, effects, and functional parallels.

    • Conclusions:

    • Embarrassment is a distinct emotion.
    • Understanding its theoretical landscape is crucial for future research.
    • Further investigation is needed to address unanswered questions.