This post rings true for me. I have a pretty overactive guilt reaction, and I think I’m considered to be trustworthy and reliable (except when it comes to group academic projects, as per previous posts!). For example, if I make plans with somebody, even the thought of cancelling makes me feel guilty...so I don’t cancel on people. Thus I have a reputation as someone who doesn’t cancel. More to do with self-behaviour modification than with overt displays of guilt, and I don’t think most people know that the reason why I’m reliable is because I feel guilty if I’m not.
So for you guilt is less of a signal in and of itself but the origin of your modified-behavior signal? Several others have raised the point of guilt as an evolutionary facilitator and it makes sense to me that individuals who self-corrected due to a guilt response would be the most socially accepted and thus most likely to procreate. The shoulder-angel doesn’t need to be there if the behavior remains the same as if it had been.
It makes sense to me that individuals who self-corrected due to a guilt response would be the most socially accepted and thus most likely to procreate.
This post rings true for me. I have a pretty overactive guilt reaction, and I think I’m considered to be trustworthy and reliable (except when it comes to group academic projects, as per previous posts!). For example, if I make plans with somebody, even the thought of cancelling makes me feel guilty...so I don’t cancel on people. Thus I have a reputation as someone who doesn’t cancel. More to do with self-behaviour modification than with overt displays of guilt, and I don’t think most people know that the reason why I’m reliable is because I feel guilty if I’m not.
So for you guilt is less of a signal in and of itself but the origin of your modified-behavior signal? Several others have raised the point of guilt as an evolutionary facilitator and it makes sense to me that individuals who self-corrected due to a guilt response would be the most socially accepted and thus most likely to procreate. The shoulder-angel doesn’t need to be there if the behavior remains the same as if it had been.
It makes sense to me, too.