Guilt and Shame Are Not the Same Feeling
Guilt is the fact or feeling of having done wrong. Psychologists separate it from shame by what the feeling is about.
Guilt is the fact of having committed an offence, or the feeling that follows it. Psychology draws a sharp line from shame: guilt is about the act — I did a bad thing — while shame is about the self — I am a bad person. Research consistently finds guilt more likely to lead to repair and apology, and shame more likely to lead to concealment. In law, guilt is a finding of fact, with no feeling required.
- Responsibility for wrong. *Proof of guilt.*
- The feeling. *A sense of guilt.*
- Guilty — responsible, or feeling so. *A guilty verdict.*
- Shame — the distinct feeling. *Deep shame.*
- Guilt trip — induced guilt. *A guilt trip.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | guilt | Crushing guilt. |
| Adjective | guilty | A guilty look. |
| Adverb | guiltily | Glanced guiltily. |
| Adjective | guiltless | Entirely guiltless. |
| Old English | gylt | A crime, a sin. |
- The jury found him guilty.Legal.
- She felt guilty about leaving early.Feeling.
- Guilt is about the act, shame about the self.Psychology.
Guilt versus shame
- Guilt — I did something bad
- Shame — I am something bad
- Guilt tends to prompt apology and repair
- Shame tends to prompt hiding and withdrawal
- Legal guilt is a factual finding, unconnected to either feeling
Old English *gylt*, a crime, sin or fault, of uncertain origin with no clear relatives in other Germanic languages.
What is the difference between guilt and shame?
Guilt focuses on the action, shame on the self. Guilt more often leads to making amends; shame to concealment.
Does legal guilt require feeling guilty?
No. In law it is a finding of fact about what someone did, independent of any emotion.