Feeling Awkward

Abstract This chapter explains how awkwardness differs from related phenomena, the self-conscious emotions of embarrassment and shame. It begins by looking at whether certain people might be immune to awkwardness and why, and discusses what this tells us about the psychology of awkward feelings. Specifically, it argues that experiencing awkwardness requires a certain capacity to see ourselves in relation to others. This in turn shows that awkwardness is related to forms of self-consciousness, yet the chapter argues that awkwardness is distinct from the so-called self-conscious emotions. It describes different theories of embarrassment and shows that recognizing awkwardness as distinct from embarrassment makes for a more unified explanation of the latter. It also compares awkwardness and anxiety, and concludes by saying more about the discomfort that characterizes feeling awkward, and how it differs from anxiety.