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Cited by 274Emotions and Moral BehaviorSocial and Intergroup PsychologyDeception detection and forensic psychology

A Dynamic Model of Guilt: Implications for Motivation and Self-Regulation in the Context of Prejudice

Amodio, David M., Devine, Patricia G., Harmon-Jones, Eddie·2007·Psychological Science
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01933.x
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Abstract

Guilt is widely recognized as an important self-regulatory emotion, yet alternative theoretical accounts view guilt primarily as either a punishment cue or a prosocial motivator. Integrating these views, we propose that guilt functions dynamically to first provide a negative reinforcement cue associated with reduced approach motivation, which transforms into approach-motivated behavior when an opportunity for reparation presents itself. We tested this hypothesis in the context of racial prejudice. White subjects viewed a multiracial series of faces while cortical activity was recorded using electroencephalography. Following bogus feedback indicating anti-Black responses, subjects reported elevated guilt, which was associated with changes in frontal cortical asymmetry indicating reduced approach motivation. When subjects were presented with an opportunity to engage in prejudice-reducing behavior, guilt predicted greater interest in prejudice reduction, which in turn was associated with an approach-related shift in frontal asymmetry. The results support a dynamic model in which guilt is associated with adaptive changes in motivation and behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01933.x

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43 of 43 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • When people who endorse values opposed to prejudice believe they have acted with bias, they are motivated to inhibit the expression of implicit bias by seeking out information and putting effort into tasks they believe would help them break the prejudice habit.

    “considerable evidence demonstrates that, when they believe they have acted with bias, people who endorse values opposed to prejudice are motivated to inhibit the expression of implicit bias by seeking out information and putting effort into tasks they believe would help them break the prejudice habit”

    From Long-term reduction in implicit race bias: A prejudice habit-breaking intervention (2012) · cites this paper as Amodio, Devine, & Harmon-Jones, 2007

  • When people who endorse values opposed to prejudice act with prejudice, they experience guilt, which instigates self-regulatory efforts to disrupt automatic bias and prevent future expressions of bias.

    “when these people act with prejudice, they experience guilt (Devine et al., 1991), which instigates self-regulatory efforts to disrupt automatic bias and prevent future expressions of bias”

    From Long-term reduction in implicit race bias: A prejudice habit-breaking intervention (2012) · cites this paper as Amodio et al., 2007

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Authors
Amodio, D. M., Devine, P. G., & Harmon-Jones, E.
Affiliations
  • New York University (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • Texas A&M University
Corresponding author
Amodio, David M.
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Science
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2007-06
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
524-530
ISSN
  • 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9280
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01933.x
OpenAlex
W2159305140
Cited by
274
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 23
FWCI
14.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH18931, T32MH018931)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Deception detection and forensic psychology
Keywords
guilt, self-regulation, approach motivation, negative reinforcement, racial prejudice, EEG, prosocial behavior
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Affect, Brain, Cues, Electroencephalography, Face, Female, Guilt, Humans, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Prejudice, Set, Psychology, Social Behavior, Students, Feedback, Psychological, Racial Groups

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