ABSTRACT
Shame is a universal human emotion that influences human psychosocial functioning and development. Shame can arise in the context of grief, especially when there are difficult shame memories present for the grieving person related to the loss. In this chapter we will explore shame, its evolutionary origins and functions, associated social, cultural, and psychological factors, and the notion of shame memories, how they develop, and the form they take. Following this, we will explore shame in grief as well as approaches to assessing shame in this context. We will illustrate the key concepts presented via a clinical vignette woven throughout the chapter.
