Embarrassment: Poise and Peril in Everyday Life

by Rowland S. Miller

Embarrassment is a complex and uniquely human emotion that plays a pervasive role in social motivation and interaction. Illuminating its causes and consequences, this engaging volume examines the personal, situational, and interactive determinants of embarrassment, integrating literature from clinical and social psychology, sociology, communications, biology, and other fields. The book is peppered with lively anecdotes and enriched by the most up-to-date findings, including data from the author's own research. From the evolutionary significance of embarrassment to coping with chronic blushing, Rowland S. Miller highlights important recent discoveries and offers revealing insights into a key aspect of our social lives.

232 pages, Hardcover

First published July 26, 1996

Reviews

[Darjeeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT read. I laughed out loud on several occasions, so well is it written and so funny are some of the anecdotes of embarrassing things people nave done, Miller has done an excellent job of laying out what psychologists know about embarrassment in an accessible, compelling, and entertaining way. Most books written by social psychologists aren't nearly this interesting nor easy to read.

Highly recommended.