It’s Not You, It’s Me: A Process Model of Workplace Shaming

Abstract: Shaming has long served as a powerful social tool for control, yet research has predominantly examined on its impact on targets, leaving the experiences of those who engage in shaming underexplored. To address this imbalance, we first offer a refined conceptualization of shaming and introduce a typology of shaming behaviors, capturing its diverse manifestations in the workplace. We then propose that shaming behavior is driven by a range of emotional and relational motives, reflecting the inherently social nature of shame. Finally, we discuss the consequences of shaming, and we notably shift the focus to delineating the underexamined effects for those who engage in shaming, revealing how this behavior can yield both positive and negative outcomes for the shamer. By exploring these dynamics, our work advances understanding of the complexities of shaming, shedding light on its dual-edged nature and its role in regulating behavior and maintaining social order within organizations.

Keywords: shaming, norm violation, emotion, conceptual