"Guilt is a useless emotion" -- ??

[calebprime]

In my 52 years, I've heard popular use of psychological terms come and go.

It's rare to hear some Freudian terms like "anal-compulsive" or "penis envy" much these days.

"Narcissism" was a jargon term in Freudian psychology that now means something like being too self-centered.

So too with "sociopath". It means something specific to Robert Hare and other psychologists who study the most extreme cases of such people. In popular use it means anything from an evil villain to anyone you don't like.

This brings me to the phrase "guilt is a useless emotion".

I read it in the forum yesterday, and I've heard it said by at least one Ivy League-educated male.

Now, in my case, guilt has a quite useful function, and I, for one, welcome the feeling as part of the mix.

A little guilt helps get the dishes washed, the floor vacuumed, the aged parents called, the piece written, the past reconsidered for moral or practical lessons.

Perhaps this phrase is a little crystallization of the parts of pop psychology that have reacted against too-oppressive Christian cultural legacy?

Perhaps it expresses the wish for some kind of brave new emotional terrain that affirms only joy, ambition, empathy, service to others; and seeks to banish the "negative" (!!) emotions, such as fear, envy, anger.

Fear, envy, and anger are quite useful to me, also. I don't know about you.

For example, when I catch myself envying a more-talented musician like Keith Jarrett, the emotion is a useful reminder that I can do only what I can do, and not exactly what he does. Pick your own example.

Does anyone have any thoughts about the genesis and utility of the phrase "guilt is a useless emotion" ?

Does it hold something useful for you?

Just asking questions.

 

[Careyp74]

I don't think there is any scientific basis for the phrase itself, it is just one of those sayings to get people to stop harping over the past.

To me, it is akin to "No use crying over spilt milk." Well of course there is use for it, any and all effects of the act itself gives it a use. Others will see you cry, feel sorry for you, and give you their milk, or clean it up for you.

As far as guilt goes, you have already supplied some uses for it, but that isn't the point of the phrase, IMO. I believe It is used to reason with someone who feels overly guilty, perhaps because there are bad side effects to guilt, like physical and mental trauma. I don't think it is an argument for sociopathy.

 

[Cainkane1]

One thing I've noticed about people who never feel guilty is this. I wouldn't want to spend a lifetime with them.

 

[AkuManiMani]

In my 52 years, I've heard popular use of psychological terms come and go.

It's rare to hear some Freudian terms like "anal-compulsive" or "penis envy" much these days.

"Narcissism" was a jargon term in Freudian psychology that now means something like being too self-centered.

So too with "sociopath". It means something specific to Robert Hare and other psychologists who study the most extreme cases of such people. In popular use it means anything from an evil villain to anyone you don't like.

This brings me to the phrase "guilt is a useless emotion".

I read it in the forum yesterday, and I've heard it said by at least one Ivy League-educated male.

Now, in my case, guilt has a quite useful function, and I, for one, welcome the feeling as part of the mix.

A little guilt helps get the dishes washed, the floor vacuumed, the aged parents called, the piece written, the past reconsidered for moral or practical lessons.

Perhaps this phrase is a little crystallization of the parts of pop psychology that have reacted against too-oppressive Christian cultural legacy?

Perhaps it expresses the wish for some kind of brave new emotional terrain that affirms only joy, ambition, empathy, service to others; and seeks to banish the "negative" (!!) emotions, such as fear, envy, anger.

Fear, envy, and anger are quite useful to me, also. I don't know about you.

For example, when I catch myself envying a more-talented musician like Keith Jarrett, the emotion is a useful reminder that I can do only what I can do, and not exactly what he does. Pick your own example.

Does anyone have any thoughts about the genesis and utility of the phrase "guilt is a useless emotion" ?

Does it hold something useful for you?

Just asking questions.

How useful an emotion is depends on how a person uses it. For instance, an emotion that people generally consider to be positive can be a bad thing when acted on poorly. One example would be misapplied compassion:

A parent who continues to bail out a child with an addiction even though they know they're enabling them, or a girlfriend/wife who won't leave an abusive relationship because of their empathy for their abusive boyfriend/husband.

 

[Moochie]

From what I've learned, guilt can be a useful indicator that you're on the wrong track, ie, you've done something wrong, such as not telling the truth about something. You can rectify this by telling the truth.

Shame, on other hand, is a useless emotion because it suggests there is something wrong with you, ie, your race or sexuality, for instance, neither of which you can change.


M.

 

[calebprime]

Hey, Moochie, glad to see you posting; haven't seen you around much.