Language encodes subtle distinctions such as "without shame," "unashamed," and "shameless." "Without shame" describes actions by those unaware of social rules, like young children or visitors, whose innocence exempts them from adult expectations. "Unashamed" denotes people who know the norms yet feel their actions were appropriate and offer no apologies. "Shameless" denotes people who take pleasure in defying norms and relish transgression. Individuals routinely position themselves within group expectations; most conform, but deviations provoke others to enforce norms through embarrassment, guilt, or shaming. Shame and pride operate as basic social emotions assessing self in relationships.
The first of these refers to a circumstance where a person-perhaps a young child or a visitor to a country-performs some forbidden act because they are entirely unaware of the customs of that society. Indeed, there is no reason why a very small child should conform to adult standards for behavior. Their innocence is charming. Older people will "socialize" them soon enough.
The latter two terms suggest that the actor has some knowledge of those customs. "Unashamed" people have done something that they understand violates the standards of other people; still, they feel their behavior was basically appropriate or reasonable. They make no apologies. They may even be proud of what they've done. "Shameless" people add an additional twist. They take a certain pleasure in challenging public standards. Part of that satisfaction is the sense that their defiance is a bit "naughty" or "wrong."
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