Self-conscious emotions

This chapter explores three fundamental features of self-conscious emotions, namely their bipolarity, normativity, and perspectivity, which are illustrated with the examples of shame and pride. After introducing the triadic structure of subject, object, and witness of self-conscious emotions, it first describes their temporal forms – in terms of retrograde and anterograde tendencies and in terms of their acute and dispositional dimensions – as well as their spatial forms – in terms of a narrowing and widening of bodily space. Second, the identification with particular norms and the vulnerability to the gazes and evaluations of others are considered as prerequisites of full-blown self-conscious emotional experiences. The interconnection between a normality mediated by kinaesthetic habits and a normativity mediated by group-based values and expectations is highlighted. Third, the interplay of first-, second- and third-personal perspectives in self-conscious emotions and their expressions is interpreted, whereby complexions such as secondary other-directed or iterated self-directed shame are exposed.