Reverence, Shame and Guilt in Early Modern European Cultures

In the course of early modern state building and confessionalization, reverence – the duty to honour and respect not only God but also parents, teachers, monarchs and all figures of parental authority – was prescribed as a key emotion in the legitimization of political and confessional power. Alongside the catechetical inculcation of religious doctrine, the instilling of shame and guilt played a crucial role in the efforts of social disciplining. In terms of gender, application of reverence, shame and guilt as means for social disciplining and legitimation of power reinforced traditional patriarchal structures in household and society. Suicidal murder represented the ultimate challenge to this policy of shame and guilt.