The Power of Guilt

Guilt is one of the most powerful—and unpleasant—emotions we experience. When we feel it, we want it gone.
But it carries an important purpose we should learn not to ignore.
When was the last time you felt guilty? Chances are, you don’t even want to think about it—most of us would rather not. It’s uncomfortable. We can’t change what we did now, so why dwell on it?
But avoiding guilt is a mistake we have to stop making if we want to improve our lives, our relationships, and our mental health.
Drawing on extensive research into psychology, psychotherapy, philosophy, comparative religion, and legal studies, as well as Chris Moore’s own foundational experiences with the emotion, Guilt offers a new perspective.
In this fascinating deep dive, readers will learn:
- The evolutionary origins of guilt, what its real purpose is, and how it impacts us - Why we should view guilt as a healthy emotion—and even be grateful for it - How to reframe guilt as an opportunity to grow and strengthen our relationships - Why collective guilt holds the potential for driving social change - Ways to recognize when our guilt is misplaced and acting as an obstacle
Our ability to feel guilt is a gift, not a burden. We need only change the way we respond to it. Guilt is an engaging and eye-opening journey through one of the most notortious—and underutilized—emotions.

Dr. Chris Moore is a professor of psychology and former dean of science at Dalhousie University in Canada, as well as a former Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto. He holds a PhD in developmental psychology from the University of Cambridge and an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King’s College. He has spent his career studying human social understanding and relations, and has published well over 100 research papers, edited 5 books and special issues of academic journals, and authored The Development of Commonsense Psychology (Psychology Press, 2006). He has had numerous invitations to present at academic conferences and universities around the world and has enjoyed many research collaborations in Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany, China, and the UK. Moore’s work has been cited in mainstream print publications such as Psychology Today, Today’s Parent, and the New York Times. His research has also been featured in a variety of TV documentaries, including The Nature of Things and the Baby Human series on Discovery Health. This is his first book for a general audience. He lives in Nova Scotia with his family