I love this. I've never thought about what my trajectory would have looked like, if I had been shamed in person.

Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure shame is really the emotion that I was feeling before going vegan. I think having to face the reality of my actions probably elicited guilt rather than shame, because there was no social aspect to it (I don't even know who wrote the sentence in the first place).

I think shame might be more effective for behavior change when it comes from one's social context. There were times when I was younger, I wouldn't mention I was vegan around coworkers, because I was ashamed of what they might have thought (yes, I've eaten vegetarian meals after becoming vegan).

On that token, I would say shame might only "work" in social settings, where the majority is vegan already. But that would probably not make someone believe in animal rights. Rather it might influence a person's actions while in that setting.

Thank you for your well thought out reply. You've changed by mind 😄

Btw, I'm sorry to hear that you experienced a lot of shame in your childhood. I hope your doing better nowadays.