The Impact of Religious Shame on Self-Esteem: Exploring Internalized Shame in Christian Teachings
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Olsen, Sophie
Issue Date
2025
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Christian shame , religious trauma , self-esteem , internalized shame , Christian teachings , Christian beliefs , biblical teachings , Christian denominations , Christian sin , Christian morality , religious shame , religion , evangelical shame , religious abuse , religiosity , self-esteem scale , mental distress , spiritual functioning , cultural shame , shame proneness , religious coping , self-discrepancy theory , actual self , ideal self , ought self
Alternative Title
Abstract
The literature review undertaken for this capstone explores the relationship between Christian teachings, shame, and self-esteem, addressing the research question "How does internalized shame stemming from Christian teachings about sin and moral judgement impact self-esteem in individuals?" This topic was proposed because there is limited research on the impacts of how Christians interpret religious teachings on their wellbeing. The review addressed which components of Christian teachings may be linked to negative impacts such as the experience of shame, and the impact of shame on a person's way of knowing themselves, or their self-esteem. To find relevant literature, key search terms were used, such as: Christian beliefs, Christian teachings, sin, morality, Christian shame, religious internalized shame, religious trauma, shame and self-esteem, self-esteem scale and shame proneness. The following findings were highlighted in the literature review: teachings on sin and moral judgment can trigger feelings of personal responsibility, those feelings of personal responsibility can lead to feelings of shame when they concern something uncontrollable or unchangeable, and the experience of shame can negatively impact a person's self-esteem. Pursuant to these findings, the author provides recommendations to help clinicians support individuals who are negatively impacted, including assessing for self-discrepancies, using shame-sensitive approaches, and exploring differential approaches to religion. The study concludes with a summary of findings and take-aways, future research questions, and reflections from the author.