Erroneous perception of a look could render shame a false shame before nobody.

Evidence

On the occasion of certain appearances in the world which seem to me to manifest a look, I apprehend in myself a certain “being-looked-at” with its own structures which refer me to the Other’s real existence. But it is possible that I am mistaken; perhaps the objects of the world which I took for eyes were not eyes; perhaps it was only the wind which shook the bush behind me; in short perhaps these concrete objects did not really manifest a look. In this case what becomes of my certainty that I am looked-at? My shame was in fact shame before somebody. But nobody is there. Does it not thereby become shame before nobody? Since it has posited somebody where there was nobody, does it not become a false shame? — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 760

Categorization

• XREF: The farm/commandos example reappears from the earlier Look section — connects to the possibility of merely probable Others and to the solipsism debate. — connects to: Shame is fundamentally experienced in the presence of another person — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 659; Subtle eye images alone curb cheating even with no real observer present — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 92; Guilt requires perceived control while shame arises from uncontrollable exposure — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 219 (+1 more)
• yield-rescued: below the book’s yield-target cutoff, included anyway for connecting to: Shame is fundamentally experienced in the presence of another person — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 659; Subtle eye images alone curb cheating even with no real observer present — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 92; Guilt requires perceived control while shame arises from uncontrollable exposure — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 219 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• One can defend a public image with no authentic self behind it #complicates (0.74) — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, 403