The interpersonal nature of guilt-producing events.: Age and gender differences

This study analysed the nature of the events that cause guilt, as well as age and gender differences in this respect and in guilt intensity. The sample consisted of 202 subjects, aged from 15 to 19 and from 25 to 48. They reported their most recent experience of guilt and three things that usually made them feel guilty, and they rated the intensity of the feelings in each case on a 7-point scale. Most of the reported events were interpersonal, many of them involving close relationships. Both the proportion of interpersonal events and the guilt intensity were greater in females than in males in the adolescent group. In the adult group, males' scores on these variables were closer to females' scores, and gender differences disappeared. Results suggest that the interpersonal nature of events may be a fundamental variable for understanding not only the antecedents of guilt, but also individual differences in its intensity.