Children's Understanding of Guild and Shame

Abstract

Children's conceptions of the self‐conscious emotions guilt versus shame were investigated. In Study 1, 10–12‐year‐old children answered questions about scenarios that should elicit feelings of guilt and/or shame (moral transgressions and social blunders). In Study 2, 7–9‐ and 10–12‐year‐old children completed a sorting task to ascertain the features they associate with guilt and shame. Feelings of guilt were aroused by moral norm violations. Guilt feelings were also seen as involving an approach‐avoidance conflict with respect to the victim, self‐criticism, remorse, desire to make amends, and fear of punishment. Feelings of shame resulted from both moral transgressions and social blunders. Younger children associated shame with embarrassment, blushing, ridicule, and escape. Older children additionally characterized shame as feeling stupid, being incapable of doing things right, and not being able to look at others.