Group-based shame, guilt, and regret across cultures

Area of Science:

• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Moral Emotions

Background:

• Limited research exists on cross-cultural variations in group-based shame, guilt, and regret following transgressions.
• Understanding these emotions is crucial for comprehending social cohesion and intergroup relations across diverse societies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically examine cross-cultural differences in shame, guilt, and regret experienced after personal and group wrongdoing.
• To investigate the influence of individualistic and collectivistic values on these emotional responses across different cultural contexts.

Main Methods:

• A large community sample (N=1358) across eight diverse countries (Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Netherlands, Poland, USA) participated.
• Participants reported experiences of shame, guilt, and regret following transgressions by themselves and various identity groups (family, community, country).
• Individual and country-level endorsement of individualistic versus collectivistic values was assessed.

Main Results:

• The primary determinant of reported shame, guilt, and regret was the level of transgression.
• Significant variations in emotional experiences were observed across individuals and countries.
• These variations were partially explained by the degree to which individual and national cultures endorsed collectivistic and individualistic values.

Conclusions:

• Group-based emotions like shame, guilt, and regret are influenced by both the nature of the transgression and cultural value orientations.
• The findings underscore the necessity of considering individual and cultural values, alongside the specific identity groups involved, when studying group-based emotions.