This chapter explores how guilt and shame can affect a person's well-being in the long run, highlighting the differences between the two emotions and their associations with depressive symptoms. It also discusses a study on the outcomes of shame-prone and guilt-prone children and offers advice to parents on how to address guilt and shame in their children.
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.