Skip to main content

Making Someone Feel Guilty

Causes, Strategies, and Consequences

  • Chapter
Aversive Interpersonal Behaviors

Abstract

Guilt is an aversive emotion. It involves a sense of remorse, regret, tension, and arousal (Baumeister, Reis, & Delespaul, 1995; Tangney, 1995) and often co-occurs with shame (Ferguson & Stegge, 1995; Tangney, 1995). Because guilt is experientially bad, the act of making another person feel guilty clearly qualifies as an aversive interpersonal behavior. To make someone feel guilty is to inflict a negative, undesired emotional state that most people normally try to avoid.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aron, A., Aron, E.N., Tudor, M. & Nelson, G. (1991). Close relationships as including other in the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 241–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attridge, M., & Berscheid, E. (1994). Entitlement in romantic relationships in the United States: A social-exchange perspective. In M.J. Lerner & G. Mikula (Eds.), Entitlement and the affectional bond: Justice in. close relationships (pp. 117–148). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, K.C. (1995). A functionalist approach to shame and guilt. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 25–63). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, K.C., & Campos, J.J. (1987). Perspectives on emotional development: II. A functionalist approach to emotions. In J. Osofsky (Ed.), Handbook of infant development (pp. 555–578). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. E, & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497–529.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F., Reis, H.T., & Delespaul, P.A.E.G. (1995). Subjective and experiential correlates of guilt in daily life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 1256–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.E., Sommer, K.L., & Cicora, K.F. (in press). Inequity and iniquity in marriage. Social Justice Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F., Stillwell, A.M., & Heatherton, T.F. (1994). Guilt: An interpersonal approach. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 243–267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F., Stillwell, A.M., & Heatherton, T.F. (1995a). Interpersonal aspects of guilt: Evidence from narrative studies. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 255–342). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F., Stillwell, A.M., & Heatherton, T.F. (1995b). Personal narratives about guilt: Role in action control and interpersonal relationships. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 17, 173–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F., Stillwell, A., & Wotman, S.R. (1990). Victim and perpetrator accounts of interpersonal conflict: Autobiographical narratives about anger. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 994–1005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F. & Tice, D.M. (1990). Anxiety and social exclusion. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 9, 165–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss. Vol 1: Attachment. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss. Vol 2: Separation anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss, A. (1980). Self-consciousness and social anxiety. San Francisco: Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M.S. (1984). Record keeping in two types of relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 549–557.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M.S., & Chrisman, K. (1994). Resource allocation in intimate relationships: Trying to make sense of a confusing literature. In M.J. Lerner & G. Mikula (Eds.), Entitlement and the affectional bond: Justice in close relationships (pp. 65–88). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, M.R., Steinberg, J., & Grev, R. (1980). Wanting to and having to help: Separate motivations for positive mood and guilt-induced helping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 181–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M.H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 113–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desmarais, S., & Lerner, M.J. (1989). A new look at equity and outcomes as determinants of satisfaction in close personal relationships. Social Justice Research, 3, 105–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desmarais, S., & Lerner, M.J. (1994). Entitlement in close relationships: A justice-motive analysis. In M.J. Lerner & G. Mikula (Eds.), Entitlement and the affectional bond: Justice in close relationships (pp. 43–63). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, T.J., & Stegge, H. (1995). Emotional states and traits in children: The case of guilt and shame. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 174–197). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochschild, A. (1989). The second shift. New York: Viking

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, M.L. (1981). Is altruism part of human nature? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 121–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, M.L. (1982). Development of prosocial motivation: Empathy and guilt. In N. Eisenberg (Ed.), Development of prosocial behavior (pp. 281–313). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, W.H., Kugler, K., & Adams, P. (1995). You always hurt the one you love: Guilt and transgressions against relationship partners. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 301–321). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Josephs, R.A., Markus, H.R., & Tafarrodi, R.W. (1992). Gender and self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 391–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, I., Glass, D.C., & Cohen, S. (1973). Ambivalence, guilt, and the scapegoating of minority group victims. Journal of Experimental Social Psycholoyg, 9, 423–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leary, M.R., Tambor, E.S., Terdal, S K., & Downs, D.L. (1995). Self-esteem as an interpersonal monitor: The sociometer hypothesis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 518–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legant, P., & Mettee, D.R. (1973). Turning the other cheek versus getting even: Vengeance, equity and attraction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 25, 243–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leith, K.P., & Baumeister, R.F. (in press). Empathy, shame, guilt, and narratives of interpersonal conflicts: Guilt-prone people are better at perspective taking. Journal of Personality.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay-Hartz, J., de Rivera, J., & Mascolo, M.F. (1995). Differentiating guilt and shame and their effects on motivation. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 274–300). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mascolo, M.E, & Fischer, K.W. (1995). Developmental transformations in appraisals of pride, shame, and guilt. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 64–113). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miceli, M. (1992). How to make someone feel guilty: Strategies of guilt inducement and their goals. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 22, 81–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sprecher, S. (1992). How men and women expect to feel and behave in response to inequity in close relationships. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, 57–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steil, J.M. (1995). Equality and entitlement in marriage: Benefits and barriers. In M.J. Lerner & G. Mikula (Eds.) Entitlement and the affectional bond: Justice in close relationships (pp. 229–258). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P. (1990). Assessing individual differences in proneness to shame and guilt: Development of the Self-Conscious Affect and Attribution Inventory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 102–111

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P. (1991). Moral affect: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 598–607.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J. P. (1992). Situational determinants of shame and guilt in young adulthood. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18, 199–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P. (1995). Shame and guilt in interpersonal relationships. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 114–142). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P, Burggraf, S.A., & Wagner, P.E. (1995). Shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and psychological symptoms. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 343–367). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P. & Fischer, K.W. (Eds.) (1995). Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P, Wagner, P.E., Fletcher, C., & Gramzow, R. (1992). Shamed into anger? The relation of shame and guilt to anger and self-reported aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 669–675.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tangney, J.P, Wagner, P.E., & Gramzow, R. (1992). Proneness to shame, proneness to guilt, and psychopathology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 469–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., & Brown, J.D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: Asocial psychological perspective on mental health. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 193–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vangelisti, A.L., Daly, J.A., & Rudnick, J.R. (1991). Making people feel guilty in conversations: Techniques and correlates. Human Communication Research, 18, 3–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VanYperen, N.W., & Buunk, B.P. (1994). Social comparison and social exchange in marital relationships. In M.J. Lerner & G. Mikula (Eds.), Entitlement and the affectional bond: Justice in close relationships (pp. 89–115). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahn-Waxler, C., Kochanska, G. (1990). The origins of guilt. In R.A. Thompson (Ed.), The Nebraska symposium on motivation 1988: Socioemotional development (Vol. 36, pp. 182–258). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahn-Waxler, C., Radke-Yarrow, M., Wagner, E., & Chapman, M. (1992). Development of concern for others. Developmental Psychology, 28, 126–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zahn-Waxler, C., & Robinson, J. (1995). Empathy and guilt: Early origins of feelings of responsibility. In J.P. Tangney & K.W. Fischer (Eds.), Self-conscious emotions: The psychology of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride (pp. 143–173). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sommer, K.L., Baumeister, R.F. (1997). Making Someone Feel Guilty. In: Kowalski, R.M. (eds) Aversive Interpersonal Behaviors. The Springer Series in Social/Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9354-3_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9354-3_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9356-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9354-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics