The Power of Guilt and Moral Clarity

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Guilt is an interesting topic that has many positive effects. It motivates us to make amends and help others. Guilt signals when we disappoint ourselves and keeps us morally grounded. Research shows that people who worry about letting others down are less likely to become complacent and actually contribute more. Psychology nerds unite to discuss the importance of guilt!

You don’t always decide what you feel, but you do own how you react to those feelings. In her bestselling book and TED Talk, Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David examines the skills involved in emotional agility. She and Adam go deep on this topic, discussing the risks of judging and suppressing unwanted emotions — and effective techniques for managing them. They explore why optimism is not essential to well-being and how to overcome pressure to be positive. And they reveal how paying attention to what you feel can reveal what you value. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts