Psychological distance crucial in managing embarrassment: Study

A new study published in BMC Psychology has found that social distance, the perceived psychological or emotional proximity between individuals in a social context, plays a key role in embarrassment. The study provides evidence that both the fear of being judged and the feeling of being less connected contribute to how embarrassed people feel in different social situations. The researchers propose that embarrassment is a temporary and less damaging emotion compared to shame because it involves activating the cognitive process associated with seeking attachment for security.