tertiary · Sadness

Guilty

Part of the Emotion & Feeling Wheel

What is Guilty?

The uncomfortable feeling that arises when one believes they have violated their own moral code. Guilt focuses on a specific behavior rather than one's entire identity. When processed well, guilt can lead to accountability and repair of relationships.

When you might feel guilty

Guilty is a specific form of shameful, which itself is a type of sadness. You might experience this feeling in situations where sadness is present, particularly when the circumstances align with the nuances that define guilty.

Emotional Hierarchy

SadnessShamefulGuilty

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Use our free interactive feeling wheel to explore guilty and discover related emotions.

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