Shame vs. Guilt

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0331/p01s02-woap.html

Most asians understand "Mien Ze" or "Diou Nien" well - the words certainly elicits a visceral reaction from some of us, but until reading the CS article linked above, I had never considered the concept in "guilt-based" or "shame-based" terms.

In the below quote, I find the implications interesting:

" Though this is not a hard and fast rule, Zheng suggests, in general terms 'guilt means you try to be good in the eyes of God; shame means you try to be good in the eyes of your neighbors.' "

This goes a long way in explaining the Chinese "me-first except when it makes me look bad" culture.