A guilt trip is the experience of guilt due to another person's communication that leads to the emotional response. Guilt tripping, causing a guilt trip, is a form of emotional blackmail that is often intended to manipulate a person by preying on their feelings of guilt or responsibility. It is considered by many to be a toxic behavior that affects a person's well-being and relationships.

There are limited studies examining the guilt trip, mostly focused on parent–child relationships. George K. Simon interprets the guilt trip as a special kind of intimidation tactic. A manipulator suggests to the conscientious victim that they do not care enough, are too selfish or has it easy. This usually results in the victim feeling bad, keeping them in a self-doubting, anxious and submissive position. Some consider guilt tripping a person to be a form of punishment for a perceived transgression.

Some authors consider that inducing guilt is not always wrong as it can facilitate a wrongdoer's moral development.

See also

Further reading

Academic articles

  • Baldassar L (2015). "Guilty feelings and the guilt trip: Emotions and motivation in migration and transnational caregiving". Emotion, Space and Society, vol. 16, Aug 2015, pp. 81–89.
  • Kezar D (2000). "Shakespeare's Guilt Trip in Henry V". Modern Language Quarterly, vol. 61.3, pp. 431–461.

Books

  • Hesz A, Neophytou B (2009). Guilt Trip: From Fear to Guilt on the Green Bandwagon.
  • Scottoline L, Serritella F (2014). Have a Nice Guilt Trip.

External links