Consequences of guilt in children and adolescents

Abstract

The role of guilt within the context of interpersonal relationships, the definitions of guilt, the origins of guilt, and whether or not outcomes associated with guilt tend to be negative or positive are the focus of this research paper. Four hundred and seventy-two (472) articles, covering a period of thirty-three years (33), were tabulated as to their perspective concerning the phenomenon of guilt. A determination was made as to whether each article leaned toward presenting guilt as a negative or positive influence pertaining to human behavior and/or interaction. It is hypothesized that the literature reflects significantly more negative outcomes associated with guilt than it does positive outcomes; that, overall, guilt can be said to have but little constructive use in human behavior and/or interaction. The findings of this study support the hypothesis.