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Moral affect: the good, the bad, and the ugly
1Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Shame and guilt are distinct personality traits impacting interpersonal interactions. Guilt relates positively to empathy, while shame relates to personal distress, suggesting guilt may be less detrimental.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Moral affective personality characteristics, including shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and empathic responsiveness, are crucial for understanding interpersonal behavior.
- Previous research has not fully delineated the distinct interpersonal implications of shame and guilt.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationships among shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and empathic responsiveness.
- To differentiate the interpersonal implications of shame versus guilt.
Main Methods:
- Four independent studies were conducted with undergraduate participants.
- Data were collected on proneness to shame, proneness to guilt, other-oriented empathy, and personal distress.
Main Results:
- Shame-proneness and guilt-proneness were substantially positively correlated.
- Other-oriented empathic responsiveness was negatively related to shame-proneness but positively related to guilt-proneness.
- Personal distress was positively linked to shame-proneness.
Conclusions:
- Shame and guilt represent distinct affective experiences with different interpersonal consequences.
- Guilt, particularly in the interpersonal domain, may not be as negative as shame.
- Shame is associated with personal distress, highlighting its detrimental interpersonal effects.