Existential guilt

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From a philosophical point of view, existential guilt denotes guilt based on being, i.e. H. to have been born as a human being (to exist; cf. Mathias Hirsch, 1997.). In social psychology, existential guilt describes generalized guilt (feelings) that arise due to relative privilege. Unlike debt Existential guilt is not due to the fact that the person personally a mistake a responsibility carries. Rather, it only benefits from a structure of distribution of rewards and costs that disadvantages others (see Baumeister, Stillwell & Heatherton, 1994). An opposite term is relative deprivation. The topic of existential guilt is dealt with in the relative privilege theory.

Explanation : One example is the East-West comparison, which can be characterized by the perception of an unjust position in the East after reunification. Existential guilt predicts solidarity between West Germans and East Germans.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ M. Hirsch: Guilt and feelings of guilt. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1997.
  2. ↑ M. Schmitt, B. Reichle, J. Maes: Responsibility and reactions to the disadvantaged. In: AE Auhagen, HW Bierhoff (ed.): Responsibility. The many faces of a social phenomenon. Routledge, London 2001, pp. 167-178.
  3. ^ RF Baumeister, AM Stillwell, TF Heatherton: Guilt: An interpersonal approach. In: Psychological Bulletin. 115, 1994, pp. 243-267.
  4. ↑ J. Maes: Solidarity - a question of personality? The example of solidarity between West Germans and East Germans. In: HW Bierhoff, D. Fetchenhauer (Ed.): Solidarity. Conflict, Environment and the Third World. Leske + Budrich, Opladen 2001, pp. 293-320.
  5. ↑ M. Schmitt: Justice and Solidarity in the reunified Germany. In: B. Reichle, M. Schmitt (Ed.): Responsibility, Justice and Morality. Juventa, Munich 1998, pp. 87-98.