A Dynamic Model of Guilt: Implications for Motivation and Self-Regulation in the Context of Prejudice

• Published in: Psychological science Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 524 - 530
• Main Authors: Amodio, David M., Devine, Patricia G., Harmon-Jones, Eddie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Blackwell Publishing 01.06.2007; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Affect - physiology; Behavior; Behavior change; Brain - physiology; Continental Population Groups - psychology; Cues; Desire; Electroencephalography; Electroencephalography - methods; Emotional expression; Emotional states; Emotions; Face; Feedback, Psychological - physiology; Female; Guilt; Humans; Models, Psychological; Motivation; Motivation research; Negative reinforcement; Prejudice; Psychology; Punishment; Racism; Reinforcement; Reparations; Self regulation; Set (Psychology); Shame; Social Behavior; Social motivation; Social psychology; Students - psychology; Transgression
• ISSN: 0956-7976; 1467-9280
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01933.x

Guilt is widely recognized as an important self-regulatory emotion, yet alternative theoretical accounts view guilt primarily as either a punishment cue or a prosocial motivator. Integrating these views, we propose that guilt functions dynamically to first provide a negative reinforcement cue associated with reduced approach motivation, which transforms into approach-motivated behavior when an opportunity for reparation presents itself We tested this hypothesis in the context of racial prejudice. White subjects viewed a multiracial series of faces while cortical activity was recorded using electroencephalography. Following bogus feedback indicating anti-Black responses, subjects reported elevated guilt, which was associated with changes in frontal cortical asymmetry indicating reduced approach motivation. When subjects were presented with an opportunity to engage in prejudice-reducing behavior, guilt predicted greater interest in prejudice reduction, which in turn was associated with an approach-related shift in frontal asymmetry. The results support a dynamic model in which guilt is associated with adaptive changes in motivation and behavior.