Guilt as a moral regulator of behavior

the article analyzes the forms of external and internal regulator of human behavior (guilt), which acts as a motivator for its development, self-relationship, acceptance and implementation of the norms and rules accepted in society. The process of transforming external regulation of social behavior into internal management of needs and contradictions is considered as a way of developing intrapersonal beliefs and moral values accepted in society as one’s own. The author points out the constructive and destructive features of the manifestation of the phenomenon of guilt as a source of the emergence of intrapersonal conflict, the struggle of desires and moral demands of the external environment. The author sets the task of drawing attention to the problem of the emerging feeling of guilt as a preventive form of self-awareness that allows one to assimilate the values of society and reduce the level of deviant behavior.

moral behavior, conscience, shame, guilt, intrapersonal conflict, internalization