Sentir (is reflexive necessary)

[pacomartin123]

According to 501 verbs
sentir = to feel sorry; to regret; to feel
sentirse = to feel (well, ill)

Is there any difference between the meaning of these two sentences?
1) Paco se sintió avergonzada.
2) Paco sintió avergonzada.

Would both be grammatically correct? If they are both correct, which one would you be more likely to say (native speakers)?
Google translates them the same.

[Rusty]

Paco, a male, could never be avergonzada. :)
If you're embarrassed, you use sentirse, but if you feel embarrassment, you need to use sentir.

The pronominal verb sentirse is not the same as sentir, although I can see where you might think they overlap.

Think of them this way:

HOW you feel = sentirse (internal state of mind), followed by an adjective or an adverb (good, bad, sick)
No me siento bien.

WHAT you feel = sentir (outside influence), followed by a noun (emotion, pain, lamentation)
Siento un dolor en mi pierna.

[Don José]

Paco se sintió avergonzado :good:
Paco sintió avergonzado :bad:

Paco se sintió enfermo.
Paco se sintió culpable.

Paco sintió un deseo de matar a alguien.
Paco sintió frío.
Paco sintió miedo.