Guilt tripping is a form of emotional blackmail[1] that is often designed to manipulate other people by preying on their emotions and feelings of guilt or responsibility. This can be a form of toxic behavior that can have detrimental effects on a person's well-being as well as their relationships.

Overview edit

Creating a guilt trip in another person may be considered to be manipulation in the form of punishment for a perceived transgression.[2]

George K. Simon interprets the guilt trip as a special kind of intimidation tactic. A manipulator suggests to the conscientious victim that they do not care enough, is too selfish or has it easy. This usually results in the victim feeling bad, keeping them in a self-doubting, anxious and submissive position.[3]

There are limited studies examining guilt trips, and those studies tend to focus on guilt trips in parent–child relationships.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Psychology of the Guilt-Tripper | Psychology Today United Kingdom". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  2. ^ Braiker, Harriet B. (2004). Who's Pulling Your Strings? How to Break The Cycle of Manipulation. ISBN 978-0-07-144672-3.
  3. ^ K., Simon, George (1996). In sheep's clothing: Understanding and dealing with manipulative people. Parkhurst Brothers. ISBN 9781935166306. OCLC 646166340.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Mandara, Jelani; Pikes, Crysta L. (2008). "Guilt Trips and Love Withdrawal: Does Mothers' Use of Psychological Control Predict Depressive Symptoms Among African American Adolescents?". Family Relations. 57 (5): 602–612. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00526.x. ISSN 1741-3729.

Further reading edit

Academic articles

  • Baldassar L (2015). "Guilty feelings and the guilt trip: Emotions and motivation in migration and transnational caregiving". Emotion, Space and Society, vol. 16, Aug 2015, pp. 81–89.
  • Kezar D (2000). "Shakespeare's Guilt Trip in Henry V". Modern Language Quarterly, vol. 61.3, pp. 431–461.

Books

  • Hesz A, Neophytou B (2009). Guilt Trip: From Fear to Guilt on the Green Bandwagon.
  • Scottoline L, Serritella F (2014). Have a Nice Guilt Trip.

External links edit