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

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 associ...