Understanding the Psychology of Guilt – The Role of Relational Utility in Guilt and Regret – Chapter 3

Nelissen (2014) found that relational utility influences the intensity of guilt feelings. Specifically, people would feel stronger guilt for hurting the victim if this victim has a higher relational utility than a low relational utility.

However, previous research suggested that regret is typically experienced when one’s own benefit is involved. Regret, a highly related emotion of guilt, was not measured in the Nelissen (2014)’s research. In the present research, we examined the role of relational utility in experienced guilt and regret and explored whether the effect of relational utility on regret can explain the relation between relational utility and guilt.