Shame and Social Work

“The authors deftly and powerfully weave together absorbing insights, empirical research and analysis on a negative, deeply visceral, often-unspoken human experience of shame. Crucial for social work education and practice.” George Palattiyil, The University of Edinburgh

“A courageous book that dares to unveil emotions and thoughts that are almost always unspoken. Highly suggested for students, professionals and educators, it provides a powerful instrument to enhance practice and improve the wellbeing of professionals and service users.” Teresa Bertotti, President, European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW)

Liz Frost is Associate Professor at the University of the West of England.

Veronika Magyar-Haas is Professor in Educational Science at the University of Fribourg.

Holger Schoneville is Senior Lecturer in social work at Dortmund University.

Alessandro Sicora is Associate Professor and teaches social work at the University of Trento.

Part One: The Concept of Shame from Different Perspectives

Making Sense of Shame Theory: A Possible Psychosocial Structure ~ Elisabeth Frost

The sociology of shame ~ Sighard Neckel

Shame as an Anthropological and Historical and Social Emotion ~ Veronika Magyar-Haas

Part Two: Shame and Service Users

Poverty as an Attack on Subjectivity: The Case of Shame, A Social Work Perspective ~ Holger Schoneville

Interactions of Shame: Violence against Children and Residential Care ~ Marie Demant and Friederike Lorenz

Emotional Labour in Social Work Practice and the Production of Shame in Service Users’ ~ Carsten Schröder

Part Three: Shame and Social Workers

Shame Regulation as Organisational Control: Evoking, Containing, and Diverting Shame to Create Compliance ~ Matthew Gibson

Claim, Blame, Shame: How Risk Undermines Authenticity in Social Work ~ Mark Hardy

Shame, Mistakes and Reflective Practice in Social Work ~ Alessandro Sicora