Introduction: The role of shame in psychoanalytic theory and practice

Translations of summary

Introducing three papers by Leon Wurmser, Claude Janin and John Steiner the author gives an overview of the development of the concept of shame in psychoanalytic theory and practice. Different aspects of the phenomenon of shame are being discussed including its relation to guilt, object relations and identity as well as the role of gaze when emerging from a psychic retreat.

Key words:

• shame
• guilt
• identity
• object relations
• psychic retreats
• Education Section, Shame