Guilt requires holding internalized personal norms of justice, not external pressure

Evidence

In addition to feelings of responsibility, research indicates that personal guilt will also result if an indiscretion violates personal norms of justice or standards for moral behavior (Devine & Zuwerink, 1994; Fazio & Hilden, 2001; Harder & Greenwald, 1999; Higgins, 1987; Schott, 1979; Walster et al. 1978). For example, Monteith, Devine, and Zuwerink (1993) found that high prejudice individuals felt less guilt than low prejudice individuals when they thought they would engage in prejudicial behavior. The reason for the discrepancy is that low prejudice individuals hold a personal standard for nonprejudiced behavior, whereas high prejudice individuals believe they should not act on prejudice because others think they should not. Barkan (2000) suggests this type of emotional reaction to perceived injustice may also occur at the collective level because liberal societies expect justice and tend to feel guilt when unjust policies implemented by past generations come to light. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 444

Categorization

• XREF: The personal-standard explanation of guilt (internalized norm vs. external ‘what others think’) parallels the attachment/glorification distinction the reader is chasing — attachers hold internal standards allowing self-critique, glorifiers defer to external-image concerns. — connects to: Guilt can be felt for one’s group’s moral violations without personal responsibility — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 146; Personal guilt arises from internal attributions for controllable harmful outcomes — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 144; Collective guilt can occur without any personal responsibility for the harm — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 71 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Guilt over prejudice arises only in people who internalize egalitarian standards #exemplifies (0.88)
• Civil society depends on internal guilt control, not external fear control #corroborates (0.85)
• Personal guilt arises from internal attributions for controllable harmful outcomes #corroborates (0.82) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 144
• Collective guilt can occur without any personal responsibility for the harm #complicates (0.80) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 71
• Guilt can be felt for one’s group’s moral violations without personal responsibility #complicates (0.78) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 146