Which of the following refers to the anxiety or discomfort we experience when we deviate from our own internal standards of right and wrong? a. moral inferiority b. punitive egoism c. guilt d. hedonism

The answer is C. Guilt refers to the anxiety or discomfort we experience when we deviate from our internal standards of right and wrong.

EXPLANATION

In psychology, guilt is a feeling of discomfort experienced by an individual who feels responsible for any action or inaction that deviates from our internal standards of right or wrong. The guilt feeling needs to be resolved. If the guilt is kept for a long time, it will lead to a lot of negative psychological symptoms.  

For example, some children might experience guilt because their parents went through a divorce. They might blame themselves because they couldn’t save their parents’ marriage. The guilt feeling has to be resolved. Children needed to know that it was not their fault that their parents experienced divorce. It’s their parents own responsibility and choices to have the divorce. If the guilt is not resolved, children might experience negative psychological symptoms that may lead to mental disorder.

Guilt is a common term in psychology and psychiatry. More simply, guilt is an individual’s conflict in doing something that they shouldn’t have done. It is not a feeling that comes and goes easily; guilt is driven by ‘conscience’. Sigmund Freud explained guilt as an internal struggle between an individual’s superego and ego. Superego is the part in each person that plays the moralizing role, while ego is the realistic part that makes people think before doing something.

LEARN MORE:  

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

What is survivor guilt?

Clue statement of guilt:

KEYWORDS: Guilt, morality, psychology, Freud

Subject: Social studies

Class: 10-12

Subchapter: Guilt