The Current Why you shouldn’t feel guilty about feeling guilty
Apr 6, 2026
Chris Moore, psychology professor at Dalhousie and author of The Power of Guilt, explores why guilt gets a bad rap. He tells a personal accident story, explains different kinds of guilt, and reframes guilt as a signal that a relationship needs repair. He also covers how guilt is used socially, parental guilt, and when guilt becomes excessive.
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Accident That Defined His View Of Guilt
- Chris Moore survived a Cambridge car crash that killed a cyclist and left him waking in hospital with profound guilt.
- Friends from the Christian Union visited and their forgiveness immediately eased his guilt and reshaped his view on repair.
Guilt Is A Relationship Repair Signal
- Guilt primarily signals that we've damaged relationships we care about rather than merely indicating moral failure.
- Moore argues the core purpose of guilt is to prompt repair and that forgiveness from the harmed party relieves guilt.
Guilt Proneness Lies On A Spectrum
- People vary in guilt proneness on a spectrum from no guilt (psychopathy) to excessive guilt.
- Healthy functioning requires appropriate levels of guilt that motivate repair without constant self-blame.
