Caring and the Evolution of Guilt

Abstract Mammals are confronted with a number of life tasks to support their survival and reproduction. A core reproductive task is care of offspring. This requires competencies for detecting offspring needs, distress protecting from harm. Later evolved motives to care and support allies and in-group members. Guilt evolved with caring motives and alerts to the possibility of causing harm or not preventing it (for example by not meeting needs). It triggers urgent action if harm could or has occurred. Guilt can therefore arise when one has caused unintended harm or allowed harm to occur that one could have prevented. It is very different to shame. The chapter also discusses how some forms of antisocial behavior are associated with diminished care and compassion motives and an absence of guilt. Here the therapeutic task is to facilitate care and compassion motives and hence capacities to experience the remorse and sadness of guilt.