Social norms, values, knowledge and traditions contribute to the creation of orderly conditions for regulating the behavior of specific social groups and the life of the entire society, which is one of the main functions of culture. In complex social systems such as society, culture, guilt and shame play an important role in regulating human social behavior. These psychological phenomena are completely related to the emotional field. Their source and driving force is a person in the process of socialization. Shame focuses on external evaluation of the social environment, while guilt focuses on internal self-esteem. Guilt is the awareness (understanding) of the unacceptable behavior, action or inaction of a person. An individual experiencing guilt has a subconscious desire to accept punishment for his actions, and sometimes to suppress other types of his activities, which can even manifest itself through the effect of paralysis. This type of reaction can be observed in patients suffering from depression, lethargy and self-blame for their own wrong behavior. Shame can be characterized as a feeling of embarrassment from reprehensible behavior to remorse. Shame is considered by psychologists as a feeling that arises when a person commits an act that violates moral standards and belittles a person’s personal dignity. Shame is regret about an action committed (including in the distant past), dissatisfaction with oneself, anxiety and self-condemnation. In physical expression, shame manifests itself through a flushed face, drooping eyes, and increased body temperature. Feelings of guilt and shame, on the one hand, make a person vulnerable to the opinions, attitudes and assessments of others. On the other hand, they contribute to the development of social responsibility, the reduction of selfish manifestations, and the limitation of egocentrism. Existential psychotherapy, while recognizing guilt as a guide to personal self-realization, does not lose sight of the dangers that may lie behind it. Thus, when working with guilt, an existential psychologist enables a person to understand the importance of free and responsible life choices and helps them learn not only to make this choice carefully, but also to work with guilt if it appears after this choice. In cognitive psychotherapy, guilt contradicts the vision of existential psychologists and is perceived as an exclusively subjective reality. In many cognitive theories, terms such as causal attribution or attributional style are used to explain the reasons for the emergence of feelings of guilt and shame. To summarize, we can say that the determining place of guilt and shame in regulating human behavior in society is due to the influence on the relationships between individuals and the whole group. Feelings of guilt and shame often create barriers to communication, making it too stressful and confrontational. Guilt and shame are a painful and painful experience that focuses a person’s attention on himself and contributes to the development of isolation, disruption of social ties, and impedes social adaptation. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the positive functions of these feelings. Guilt and shame suppress a person's bad behavior, help him fight the negative manifestations of human nature and stimulate him to fulfill his moral obligations to people and society. Book a consultation by phone: +7 915 205 05 05