The Surprising Link Between Embarrassment and Trust
You probably hate the feeling of embarrassment: the flushed cheeks, the racing heart, the voice in your head berating you for whatever faux-paus you’ve done. But that feeling of embarrassment might just be what allows other people to trust you more and forgive you faster.
In this episode of Hold that Thought, we explore the emotion of embarrassment, its evolutionary roots in trust and social harmony, its psychological ties to self awareness, and how knowing more about this emotion can make us less controlled and cowed by it.
Key Words: Embarrassment, shame, guilt, self-awareness, psychology, trust
Resources:
Flustered and faithful: embarrassment as a signal of prosociality
