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Guilt, Conscience, and Morality

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Human Emotions

Part of the book series: Emotions, Personality, and Psychotherapy ((EPPS))

Abstract

Perhaps all of the emotions play some part, directly or indirectly, in the development of conscience and morality. Fear, anger, and shame are likely to emerge if harsh physical punishment is used in teaching right-wrong discriminations. Excitement and joy in caring for and helping others, especially when no reciprocation can be expected, may characterize the mature conscience and the highest form of moral behavior. Nevertheless, guilt is the emotion most essential to the development of the affectivecognitive structures of conscience and the affective-cognitive-action patterns of moral behavior.

One important point with regard to morality should not be forgotten: unless it has a fervor of emotion, unless it is touched with spiritual warmth, it is nothing but formal rectitude. True morality, like beauty, needs more than intellect. It includes a feeling of good will for others that is warmed by an inner fire. (Sinnott, 1966, pp. 181–182)

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© 1977 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Izard, C.E. (1977). Guilt, Conscience, and Morality. In: Human Emotions. Emotions, Personality, and Psychotherapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2209-0_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2209-0_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2211-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2209-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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