Every time we encounter the display of others' emotions, we may experience a feeling of cringe or shame—not merely a reaction to the external exhibition of feelings, but a profound internal response tied to our self-conception.

Internal Echoes: Understanding the Roots of Emotional Shame

Every time we encounter the display of others' emotions, we may experience a feeling of cringe or shame—not merely a reaction to the external exhibition of feelings, but a profound internal response tied to our self-conception. This response is rooted in early experiences when external evaluations influenced the formation of our self-esteem, transforming any emotion into something undesirable and even unacceptable. This psychological discomfort intensifies when we keenly feel our uniqueness and our differences from others, perceiving their emotional expressions as signals of our own insecurity and deviation from established norms. Ultimately, the experiences triggered by observing other people's emotions go beyond mere external interaction, reaching into the very depths of our inner world, which is filled with the struggle for acceptance and self-respect.

What could be the reason for feeling cringe or shame when witnessing the emotions of others?

The reason for experiencing these feelings may lie in a deep internal struggle associated with negative self-esteem that was developed under the influence of external attitudes since childhood. When we see others' emotions, this experience can remind us that we consider the expression of feelings as undesirable or unacceptable, leading to internal tension and a shift in our emotional state.

As noted in one of the sources, this is reflected in the following reasoning:
"Why does this heavy contraction, this crumpling of the soul, awaken when we see other people? Because the negative self-esteem that triggers this 'psychic spasm' is that depressing and oppressive constriction of the soul—which can only be born in a child’s soul on the basis of the external treatment by others." (source: 1348_6739.txt)

Additionally, the feeling of embarrassment or shame may arise from the awareness of one's difference from their surroundings, when a person feels their existential uniqueness. This, in turn, heightens one's sensitivity to the behavior of others, which appears to exceed the boundaries of the internal norms and standards. For example, another study emphasizes:
"Experiencing embarrassment in interpersonal relationships is often the result of a person realizing their existential uniqueness: whether physical, intellectual, social, age-related, professional, or occupational." (source: 131_654.txt)

Thus, the feeling of cringe or shame in response to others' emotional displays can be attributed to an internal reaction to external expressions that remind us of our own complexes and insecurities, triggered by social comparison and the sense of not conforming to standards ingrained in early childhood.

Supporting citation(s):
"Why does this heavy contraction, this crumpling of the soul, awaken when we see other people? Because the negative self-esteem that triggers this 'psychic spasm' is that depressing and oppressive constriction of the soul—which can only be born in a child’s soul on the basis of the external treatment by others." (source: 1348_6739.txt)

"Experiencing embarrassment in interpersonal relationships is often the result of a person realizing their existential uniqueness: whether physical, intellectual, social, age-related, professional, or occupational." (source: 131_654.txt)