Guilt

Guilt is a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person believes or realizes—accurately or not—that they have compromised their own standards of conduct or have violated universal moral standards and bear significant responsibility for that violation.

Definition

Guilt is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined. It is related to, but distinctly different from, shame, which is the feeling of distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

Types of Guilt

There are several types of guilt, including:

• True Guilt: This is the feeling that comes when one has done something wrong.
• False Guilt: This is the feeling of guilt over something that one is not truly responsible for.
• Vicarious Guilt: This is the feeling of guilt that comes from the actions of others, even if one was not involved in the action.
• Survivor Guilt: This is the feeling of guilt that comes from surviving a situation in which others did not.

Effects of Guilt

Guilt can have several effects on a person, including:

• Emotional Distress: Guilt can cause feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression.
• Behavioral Changes: Guilt can lead to changes in behavior, such as increased generosity or avoidance of certain situations.
• Physical Symptoms: In some cases, guilt can lead to physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches.

Coping with Guilt

There are several strategies for coping with guilt, including:

• Acknowledging the Guilt: The first step in coping with guilt is to acknowledge the feeling and understand its source.
• Making Amends: If the guilt is due to a specific action, making amends can help to alleviate the feeling.
• Seeking Professional Help: If guilt is causing significant distress, it may be helpful to seek the help of a mental health professional.

See Also

• Shame
• Regret
• Remorse
• Mental Health

Guilt Resources
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