This chapter presents findings from a longitudinal study on prison inmates, which explores their proneness to shame and guilt shortly after incarceration and its impact on their likelihood to re-offend over a 15-year period.
Guilt and shame are often used interchangeably, but researchers in emotion and psychology say they are distinct – and often motivate people into very different paths of behaviour.
For the feeling of guilt, at least, that might even push you into making unexpected positive changes.