Includes bibliographical references.

The shame spectrum -- The shame family of emotions -- The inevitability of shame -- Unloved and left out -- Exposed and disappointed -- Joy and the birth of self-esteem -- Shame and the growth of self-esteem -- The masks of shame -- Avoiding shame -- Social anxiety (Lizzie) -- Indifference (Dean) -- Promiscuity and addiction (Noah) -- Avoiding shame in everyday life -- Denying shame -- The idealized false self (Anna) -- Superiority and contempt (Caleb) -- Blame and indignation (Nicole) -- Denying shame in everyday life -- Controlling shame -- Self-mockery (Nora) -- Self-hatred (Ryan) -- Masochism (James) -- Controlling shame in everyday life -- From shame to self-esteem -- Shame defiance and narrow identity -- Shame resilience and expanding identity -- Building pride -- Sharing joy -- Appendix 1: Pre-test scoring and discussion -- Appendix 2: Exercises -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Bibliography.