Personal Narratives About Guilt: Role in Action Control and Interpersonal Relationships

Two studies explored interpersonal and action-control aspects of guilt. Both spontaneous and partner-induced guilt were studied using first-person accounts of interpersonal transgressions and guilt manipulations. Guilt was associated with transgressions against valued partners in close relationships...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Basic and applied social psychology 1995-08, Vol.17 (1-2), p.173-198
Main Authors: Baumeister, Roy F., Stillwell, Arlene M., Heatherton, Todd F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Guilt
Interpersonal relationships
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Role
Social interactions. Communication. Group processes
Social psychology
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Summary:Two studies explored interpersonal and action-control aspects of guilt. Both spontaneous and partner-induced guilt were studied using first-person accounts of interpersonal transgressions and guilt manipulations. Guilt was associated with transgressions against valued partners in close relationships, especially involving interpersonal neglect, unfilled obligations, and selfish actions. Feeling guilty was associated with higher rates of learning lessons, changing subsequent behavior, apologizing, confessing the transgression, and recognizing how a relationship partner's standards and expectations differ from one's own. Inducing guilt also appears to be a costly but effective way of influencing the behavior of relationship partners. The results support the view of guilt as a mechanism that alters behavior in the service of maintaining good interpersonal relationships.
ISSN:0197-3533
1532-4834
DOI:10.1080/01973533.1995.9646138