Shaming is a public good, argues author Jennifer Jacquet

Monica Lewinsky is calling for an end to public shaming the way she once experienced it —- as a sort of blood sport.

The former White House intern's life was turned upside down at the age of 22, when her dalliances with then-President Bill Clinton were exposed. She found herself at the centre of a international media maelstrom.... and worse than becoming a household name, "Monica Lewinsky" became a globally-recognized punchline. 

But while shaming can clearly have its destructive effects... you might be surprised to hear others argue that public shaming can ultimately be a good thing —- that it can lead to significant, positive change. 

Jennifer Jacquet is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at NYU and is the author of "Is Shame Necessary: New uses for an old tool". She was in New York City.

It's safe to say that no one is immune to experiencing shame, from the time we're young children, through to our adult years, shame is part of being human. But it's hard to say exactly how experiencing shame really effects us, and our emotions.

It's a subject David Pizarro has studied. He's an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University. He was in Ithaca, New York. 
 

Do you have experiences with shame that you think were ultimately beneficial? Is there a story you'd share? Has today's discussion led you to rethink the value of public shame? Or not at all?

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​This segment was produced by Sarah Grant and Howard Goldenthal.