Why It's Good to Feel Guilty & How Plagiarism Really Works

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Jan 15, 2026

Christopher Moore, a professor of psychology and author of *The Power of Guilt*, discusses the essential role of guilt in fostering empathy and repairing relationships. He explains how guilt evolved as a social emotion and offers insights on self-forgiveness. Roger Kreuz, an associate dean and author of *Strikingly Similar*, delves into the complexities of plagiarism, revealing that it can happen unintentionally and spans various domains, including music and literature. Together, they explore the psychological intricacies of guilt and the murky waters of copyright.

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INSIGHT

Mom's Voice Lowers Stress

Hearing your mother's voice can lower stress and raise oxytocin even over the phone.
Familiar, trusted voices provide a calming effect comparable to a physical hug.

INSIGHT

Guilt Exists To Heal Relationships

Christopher Moore defines guilt as a complex emotion that manages and heals relationships.
Guilt motivates us to repair harm and maintain social bonds.

INSIGHT

When Guilt Becomes Debilitating

Guilt proneness reflects high empathy and sensitivity to others' feelings.
Excessive guilt can fester if attempts to repair relationships fail, worsening depression.

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There’s a reason hearing your mother’s voice can feel different from hearing anyone else’s — even when it’s just a phone call. This episode opens with the surprising effects researchers have discovered. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-psychology-of-relationships/202104/two-key-reasons-why-you-should-call-your-mom

Guilt feels terrible — and that’s exactly what makes it so effective. While we tend to see guilt as something to avoid, it may actually play an essential role in helping us learn, repair relationships, and behave more ethically. Christopher Moore explains why guilt exists, how it evolved, and why feeling guilty can sometimes be a very good thing. Christopher is a professor of psychology and former dean of science at Dalhousie University, whose work has been cited in Psychology Today, Today’s Parent, and The New York Times. He is author of The Power of Guilt: Why We Feel It and Its Surprising Ability to Heal (https://amzn.to/3Nrt051).

Plagiarism seems like a clear-cut wrongdoing — but the reality is far more complicated. People plagiarize more often than you might think, sometimes without even realizing it. And in some cases, you can be accused of plagiarism even if you’ve never seen the original work. With only so many ways to tell a story or write a song, where does coincidence end and plagiarism begin? Roger Kreuz joins me to explore this fascinating gray area. He is Associate Dean and professor of psychology at the University of Memphis, a columnist for Psychology Today, and author of Strikingly Similar: Plagiarism and Appropriation from Chaucer to Chatbots. (https://amzn.to/4soVFaS).

And finally, there’s a widespread belief that dark roast coffee has more caffeine than light roast — or that espresso packs far more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. Both ideas sound logical, but they’re not quite right. We wrap up by explaining what actually determines caffeine content and why these myths persist. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/light-vs-dark-roast-coffee

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