The Psychological and Physiciological Effects of Guilt

544 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: An essay about guilt

Abstract: Guilt has physiological and psychological effects. The psychological effects can include something bad, such as feelings of worthlessness or inferiority. Guilt can also serve in a positive way as a motivator. A person may suffer physiological effects such as insomnia and physical pain.
Discussion: Guilt is feelings of culpability, especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy. There are negative physiological effects caused by guilt. Guilt can make someone over responsible. They will think that life has to be perfect, and will do everything to try to please everyone. It may make someone over conscientious so that they may neglect their needs to avoid affecting others with the negative consequences of an action. Oversensitivity becomes a problem, as one becomes obsessed with every aspect of right and wrong in the making of a decision. Guilt can mislead or misdirect you; a person may not be able to figure out their true feelings, because of irrational beliefs lying behind guilt. The feelings might be ignored because of the fear of guilt, and one would not be able to respond to anything positive or negative. People may be so overcome by guilt that they feel worthless and label themselves as a “bad person.” Guilt can evolve into shame, depression, or anxiety.
To the contrary, guilt can have positive psychological effects as well. Guilt tells us when we have let our...

Show More
Related

  • Lightweight Champ, by Juan Villoro

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    Heimowitz, Daniel. "Guilt." Psychology and Mental Health. Ed. A. Piotrowski Nancy, 3d ed. 5 vols. Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 2009. Salem Health Web. 13 May. 2014.

    Read More

  • Comparing Guilt In Macbeth And The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    Everybody alive has experienced the feeling of guilt, or at least will at some point. Usually, this feeling is quite healthy for our consciousness, helping us distinguish between what is right and wrong by our own moral principles and values. However, guilt holds quite a power to really disturb the mind. This theme of the relationship between guilt and sanity is common throughout literature, and patterns to how this is expressed through texts are very evident. Four texts which I will discuss this theme through is Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, and The Animals’ version of Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Housewife Who Drank At Home

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shame and guilt are often used interchangeably as they are often perceived to be the same or eerily similar. Yet shame is more associated with feelings of poor personal character and guilt is associated with what a person’s character does. Studies have shown that shame rather than guilt is a significant risk factor for the onset and maintenance of mental health difficulties and it has been further theorized that guilt is actually an adaptive response in which movement from shame to guilt represents a stage of mental health recovery (Dyer, et al., 2017). Though shame over particular events in the moment are not uncommon due to humanities imperfect nature, the problem resides in lack of shame resolution. May (2007) exemplifies this in that the

    Read More

  • Guilt is a Potent Emotion in Shakespeare's MacBeth

    650 Words  | 2 Pages

    ​Guilt is a very potent emotion that an individual always feels in relation to others and has its genesis in the wrong done by some person to other. The two prominent works of literature that is Macbeth and The Kite Runner, though contrived centuries apart, revolve around an unremitting feeling of guilt felt by the central characters that are Macbeth and Amir, and the ordeal they had to go through owing to the psychological and practical consequences of that guilt.

    Read More

  • Guilt In Vera Claythorne

    295 Words  | 1 Pages

    Guilt is one of the most powerful forces known to man. It can drive the average man into a paranoia struck fool, ravenous for stability. Guilt can cause people to cave in from under them, revealing an empty and hollow shell. As children, we are conditioned to feel guilty when we do something wrong. As we get older, we learn that we receive praise and acceptance when we behave properly, or as is expected of us. Because humans have a strong desire to be loved and accepted, we do things in order to receive approval. Vera Claythorne was one of the characters mostly affected by guilt. She would constantly get hysteria attacks because of the guilt she carried. She often imagined Hugo was near. General Macarthur had very strong guilt as well, so

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Guilt In Gary Soto's 'The Pie'

    749 Words  | 2 Pages

    Guilt acts as one of the strongest and most prominent emotions humans feel throughout their lives. Guilt can cause people to help others, push through obstacles, or make friends. Guilt, however, may not stop one from doing amoral actions. This can happen as a result of a perceived bonus outweighing the negative feeling one may experience from completing the action, or a heat of the moment action, where one may not fully understand the consequences of their actions.

    Read More

  • fifth business

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is one human emotion that can paralyse us, lead us to lie both to ourselves and others, to take action that we don't like, and to cripple any rational thought processes. It is self perpetuating if allowed to get out of control. Its side effects are either anger, aggressiveness or fear and reclusiveness. Its symptoms are irrational behaviour, lying, anguish, lack of self-esteem, and in extreme cases, thoughts of suicide. It is guilt. In The Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies, guilt is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel and is a major force in one’s life. Davies demonstrates this by having one character feeling guilt while another who does not.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Guilt In The Crucible

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyone knows the feeling. The nagging in the pit of your stomach that makes you rethink your actions. The feeling that makes you nervous, sweaty and scared. Guilt, an emotion that occurs when a person believes that they have violated a moral standard. Imagine a world without guilt. People would feel no remorse in anything they did, no conscience that monitored their actions. It is a powerful feeling that can both hold people back and push them towards action. This strong emotion is portrayed in several very popular pieces of literature. In the novel Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows how Macbeth’s guilt motivates him to make fatal decisions to try and hide his culpability, such as killing the king, killing Banquo and killing Macduff’s family.

    Read More

  • Conscience Quotes In Macbeth

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever felt so terrible for something you did, or even felt awful before you even do that dangerous act? A part of the human nature is the very complex brain which gives humans the thought that they have done something wrong or are about to do something wrong. This is called your conscience and if you do not listen to it, very bad things can occur as a direct consequence. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth comes across as a hero and then turned into an absolute monster due to the inhumane acts that he takes to become the most powerful leader and hold that position. Art Markman from phychology.com defines the use of guilt. He says, “Guilt is a valuable emotion, because it helps to maintain your ties to the people in your community.”(Psychology.com)

    Read More

  • Gregor's Guilt in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    411 Words  | 1 Pages

    Guilt can be from many different situations. Gregor's guilt was from his obligation to work. Even Gregor's mother, a bystander, could see his dedication to his job. Life without amusement becomes stressful and unpleasant. Throughout the novel Gregor finds himself stressed out because of his dissatisfaction with his ability to provide for his family. Gregor, finally near the end of the novel, finds satisfaction in something: his sister's violin.

    Read More

  • Impact of Guilt on MacBeth

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare? Guilt is defined as the fact or state of having offended someone or something. Guilt may cause a person to have trouble sleeping and difficulty in relationships with others. The effects of guilt tie into Macbeth with the theme of night

    Read More

  • Guilt in the Stories, As the Night the Day and The Heir

    631 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone in this world has a conscience that makes a person do bad things and good things. After a person has done a bad thing they will usually feel guilty and when they feel guilty enough they will admit to there wrong doing. Guilt exists in everyone that is human. In these stories "As the Night the Day" and "The Heir" guilt affects the two children Kojo and Sogun.

    Read More

  • Guilt in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, some may ask the question “What is guilt?” Easily enough, guilt is the feeling one has after doing something that has a bad consequence. Guilt can easily push a person into doing actions that they didn't even think they were capable of, causing depression or large amounts of anger and sadness (Guilt). Being...

    Read More

  • Guilt In Hamlet Essay

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    One particular human emotion can cripple humans mentally and physically. It can cause people to do things they do not want to do. It can lead them to twist the truth and lie not only to themselves, but people around them as well. It is something that they cannot hide. It is more like a disease, however, it is better known as guilt. Along with guilt, comes dishonesty, shamefulness, peculiar behavior, and even suicidal thoughts. Guilt is a recurring theme in both Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Every individual will experience guilt sometime in their life, but it is how they cope and handle it that defines who they are. Humans must face the feeling of guilt, accept

    Read More

  • Positive And Negative Effects Of Forgiveness

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    One negative effect of not showing forgiveness can lead to a decrease in one’s health by causing elevated stress levels, high blood pressure, depression, and psychological issues. It can also lead to mental congestion by blurring one’s thinking and focus because one’s mind can be preoccupied by the past events. Having a mind focused on the past can cause grudges, anger, and resentments, which greatly increases more problems in everyday life with others. Being unwilling to forgive can negatively affect people’s emotions in a drastic way. Negative emotions can tear families apart, friendships, and even lifelong relationships. Holding bitterness within can block positive emotions from others that are trying to help; it can overcome one’s entire life. It is no secret that an unforgiving spirit can poison one’s heart with bitterness. Without forgiveness and reconciliation there is no doubt that a fruitless relationship will persist until death. Not forgiving will cause nothing but pain and misery. It is evident that the negative effects of not having forgiveness will only lead to a life of bitterness and

    Read More

More about The Psychological and Physiciological Effects of Guilt

Open Document