FeelingGuide

Guilty vs Regret

Guilty

negative emotion

Guilty is an emotional response characterized by feelings of remorse, regret, or responsibility for a perceived offense, wrongdoing, or failure to meet personal or societal standards.

Regret

negative emotion

Regret is an emotional response characterized by feelings of sorrow or disappointment over something that one has done or failed to do, often accompanied by a desire to change the past or a sense of loss regarding opportunities or choices not taken.

Key Differences

AspectGuiltyRegret
Sentimentnegativenegative
Typeemotionemotion
NatureGuilty can be both constructive and destructive. Constructively, it can motivate individuals to take responsibility and ...Regret can be both constructive and destructive. Constructively, it may prompt self-reflection and positive change, lead...

Guilty's Perspective

Guilty is often confused with shame, but while both involve negative feelings about oneself, guilt is typically linked to specific actions and the desire to make amends, whereas shame is a more pervasive feeling about one's entire self-worth or identity.

Regret's Perspective

Regret is frequently confused with guilt, yet they are distinct emotions. While regret focuses on the evaluation of past decisions and their outcomes, guilt often pertains to a sense of responsibility for wrongdoing or harm caused to others. Both emotions can co-exist, but regret can be seen as more about personal choices, whereas guilt is relational and often involves moral considerations.

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