Anger vs guilt: inference of responsibility attribution and interpersonal reactions
Abstract
This study examined reactions toward an expression of anger or guilt. Participants' reactions were assessed after their partner for a collaborative task expressed anger or guilt due to failure on the task. Analysis indicated that participants inferred the attribution of responsibility made by the partner based on the expressed emotions; anger elicited an inference that the partner attributed the failure to the participant, while guilt led to an inference that the partner attributed the failure to the self. Further, expressers of anger were perceived as having more negative traits and were avoided more than those who expressed guilt. Discussion considered negative interpersonal effect of an expression of anger.
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The use of self blame may reflect an underlying sense of frustration and guilt related to responsibility attribution and interpersonal reactions, which can in turn contribute to psychiatric morbidity.
“The use of self blame may reflect an underlying sense of frustration and guilt related to responsibility attribution and interpersonal reactions which can, in turn, contribute to psychiatric morbidity [42], [43].”
From Psychosocial and coping responses within the community health care setting towards a national outbreak of an infectious disease (2010) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- Karasawa, K.
- Affiliations
- Nagoya University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Karasawa, Kaori
- ORCID
- Karasawa, Kaori
- Venue
- Psychological Reports
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2001-12
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 731-739
- ISSN
- 0033-2941 (ISSN-L)
- 1558-691X
- OpenAlex
- W2047936747
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Forgiveness and Related Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- anger, guilt, attribution of responsibility, interpersonal reactions, interpersonal avoidance, trait perception, negative emotions
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Anger, Female, Guilt, Humans, Internal-External Control, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Social Responsibility, Expressed Emotion
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