The Changing Faces of Shame: Culture, Therapy, and Pastoral Theology

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.