Guilt trip explained

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

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]

Further reading

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

• Turndorf J (2014) How to Not Get Taken on a Guilt Trip
• Turndorf J How to Stop Getting Taken on Guilt Trips Psychology Today 08 Apr 2014

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Psychology of the Guilt-Tripper Psychology Today United Kingdom . 2024-03-27 . www.psychologytoday.com . en-GB.
2. Book: Braiker, Harriet B.. Who's Pulling Your Strings? How to Break The Cycle of Manipulation . 2004 . 978-0-07-144672-3.
3. Book: K., Simon, George. In sheep's clothing: Understanding and dealing with manipulative people. Parkhurst Brothers. 1996. 9781935166306. 646166340.
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 . en . 57 . 5 . 602–612 . 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00526.x . 1741-3729.