FeelingGuideRevulsion vs Shame
Revulsion
negative emotionWhen something strikes us as deeply wrong or contaminated, revulsion wells up as an intense wave of disgust and repulsion. This powerful reaction encompasses both physical and emotional dimensions, surfacing in response to stimuli we find offensive, unpleasant, or morally repugnant—whether certain sights, smells, actions, or behaviors that violate our standards of acceptability.
Shame
negative emotionWhat happens when someone believes they've fallen short of the standards they or others hold? Shame emerges as an emotional response signaling perceived inadequacy—a deep sense of worthlessness and embarrassment that creates an urgent wish to withdraw or disappear from view.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Revulsion | Shame |
|---|---|---|
| Sentiment | negative | negative |
| Type | emotion | emotion |
| Nature | Revulsion can be both constructive and destructive. It may be constructive in that it helps establish boundaries and pro... | Shame tends to be more destructive than constructive. While it can promote awareness of social norms and encourage accou... |
Still between revulsion and shame?
Describe what's going on in your own words. You'll get the feelings that fit best, and why.
Automated: an AI reads your words and matches them to our feeling pages. Somewhere to start, not therapy. How this works
Revulsion's Perspective
Revulsion is often confused with disgust, yet they differ in intensity and context. While disgust is a broader emotional response to unpleasant stimuli, revulsion is more intense and often tied to moral or ethical judgments. Disgust may be felt towards food or bodily functions, whereas revulsion relates more to actions or behaviors that violate personal or societal norms.
Shame's Perspective
Shame is often confused with guilt, but they are distinct emotions. While guilt relates to feeling bad about specific actions, shame is more about feeling bad about oneself as a whole. Guilt can motivate corrective action, whereas shame may lead to avoidance and withdrawal.
Explore Both
Revulsion
negativeWhen something strikes us as deeply wrong or contaminated, revulsion wells up as an intense wave of disgust and repulsion. This powerful reaction encompasses both physical and emotional dimensions, surfacing in response to stimuli we find offensive, unpleasant, or morally repugnant—whether certain sights, smells, actions, or behaviors that violate our standards of acceptability.
Shame
negativeWhat happens when someone believes they've fallen short of the standards they or others hold? Shame emerges as an emotional response signaling perceived inadequacy—a deep sense of worthlessness and embarrassment that creates an urgent wish to withdraw or disappear from view.