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Intensity of Habitual Guilt in Men and Women: Differences in Interpersonal Sensitivity and the Tendency towards Anxious-Aggressive Guilt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Itziar Etxebarria ,
M. José Ortiz ,
Susana Conejero  and
Aitziber Pascual
Itziar Etxebarria*
Affiliation:
Universidad del País Vasco (Spain)
M. José Ortiz
Affiliation:
Universidad del País Vasco (Spain)
Susana Conejero
Affiliation:
Universidad Pública de Navarra (Spain)
Aitziber Pascual
Affiliation:
Universidad del País Vasco (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Itziar Etxebarria, Department of Basic Psychological Processes, University of the Basque Country, Aptdo. 726, 20080 San Sebastián, (Spain), Phone: +34-943015739. Fax: +34-943015670, E-mail: itziar.etxebarria@ehu.es
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Abstract

In this study we analyzed gender differences in the intensity of habitual guilt, as well as those in interpersonal sensitivity and the tendency towards experiencing feelings of guilt with a high anxious-aggressive component. The 360 participants (adolescents, young adults and adults) were asked to relate one of the situations that most frequently caused them to experience guilt and to rank its intensity and that of 9 other emotions they may have experienced at the same time on a 7-point scale. These scales were used to obtain the scores for the anxious-aggressive component of guilt. Two interpersonal sensitivity measures were used: the IRI Empathic Concern scale and an ad hoc measure focusing on the guilt produced by interpersonal events (Interpersonal Guilt). Habitual guilt was found to be more intense in women than in men in all age groups. The results suggest that this difference is linked to differences in interpersonal sensitivity and the tendency to experience types of guilt with a high anxious-aggressive component.

Se analizaron las diferencias de género en intensidad de la culpa habitual, así como en sensibilidad interpersonal y tendencia a experimentar formas de culpa con un alto componente ansioso- agresivo. Se pidió a los 360 participantes –adolescentes, jóvenes y adultos de ambos sexos-que relataran una de las situaciones que más frecuentemente les hacían experimentar sentimientos de culpa, y que señalaran en escalas de 7 puntos, junto a su intensidad, la de 9 emociones más que podían experimentar al mismo tiempo. A partir de estas escalas se obtuvieron las puntuaciones del componente ansioso-agresivo de la culpa. Se utilizaron dos medidas de sensibilidad interpersonal: la escala de Empathic Concern del IRI y una prueba ad hoc de culpa provocada por situaciones interpersonales (Culpa Interpersonal). La culpa habitual era más intensa en las mujeres que en los varones en los tres grupos de edad. Los resultados sugieren que estas diferencias responden a diferencias en sensibilidad interpersonal y en la tendencia a experimentar formas de culpa con un alto componente ansioso-agresivo.

Keywords

guilt intensitygender differencesinterpersonal sensitivityempathyanxietyintensidad de la culpadiferencias de génerosensibilidad interpersonalempatíaansiedad
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , November 2009 , pp. 540 - 554
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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