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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Guilty feelings, targeted actions.

Cynthia E Cryder¹, Stephen Springer, Carey K Morewedge

¹Washington University in St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. cryder@wustl.edu

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin

|February 17, 2012

Summary

Guilt prompts targeted reparative behaviors to correct specific social offenses, not broad self-improvement. This emotion strategically guides actions toward those wronged and when the gesture can be observed.

Area of Science:

Psychology
Social Psychology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Guilt was previously understood as an emotion driving general reparative actions.
Recent theories propose guilt serves to address specific social transgressions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the specific behavioral effects of guilt.
To test whether guilt prompts targeted or broad reparative actions.

Main Methods:

Five experiments were conducted to examine guilt's influence on behavior.
Participants' resource-sharing behaviors were observed under conditions of guilt.

Main Results:

Guilt significantly influenced behavior in a targeted manner.
Participants shared resources more generously specifically with individuals they had wronged.

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Published on: December 2, 2015

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Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

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Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

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This increased generosity was contingent on the wronged individual being able to observe the gesture.

Conclusions:

Guilt functions as a specific social offense correction mechanism.
Guilt does not trigger generalized reparative behaviors for self-perception or reputation.
Guilt elicits targeted actions to mend specific social transgressions.