In Salman Rushdie's book "Shame," he explores the delicate balance between shame and shamelessness, suggesting that this spectrum is crucial to understanding human behavior. He describes these two extremes as having severe, tempestuous effects on individuals and society. The consequences of operating at either pole can lead to chaos and conflict.

Rushdie emphasizes that shame and shamelessness can be intertwined with violence, indicating that the absence of shame can lead to moral depravity, while excessive shame can also lead to destructive outcomes. This axis between the two emotions is central to understanding the motivations behind human actions and social dynamics.