Indigenous Australians: Shame and respect

Abstract

This chapter examines the shame factor within Australian society and specifically draws on perspectives from the cultural context of Australian Indigenous people. Initially shame and respect will be examined in terms of valuing oneself and the impact of shame and respect on the constructs on oneself, those being self-confidence, self-concept and self-efficacy. These terms will be explored by understanding how these constructs of self are valued and measured within Australian society and how they are linked to respect. Discussion will then focus on how these values and measures are applied within Australian society and the effect these measures may have on an individual's perceptions of self. Strategies which can be employed to increase self-confidence, self-concept and self-efficacy will be examined, along with the notion of employing these strategies to enhance group confidence, group identity and group efficacy, drawing on examples from projects which have focused on Australian Indigenous people. It is hypothesized that if these strategies can be applied to other cultural communities within Australia then they may be translatable to assist other communities to successfully value culture, reduce shame and develop respect across cultural contexts.