"Shame and guilt likely have separate evolutionary origins. Shame appears to have evolved out of a system that regulates psychobiological responses to social rank. ... the earliest evolutionary precursors of human shame are the subordinance (ie appeasement & submission) displays exhibited by nonhuman primates in response to the occupation of low status in the social hierarchy. In the nonhuman primate context, negotiation of status is a perilous affair, and rank is determined on the basis of physical size and strength, ability to strike fear in rivals, and so on. ... the ability to unambiguously signal submission prevents further attacks from an aggressor, promotes withdrawal in the service of surviving to fight another day, and at least temporarily stabilizes and affirms the dominance hierarchy. However ... the determinants of social rank have changed over the course of human evolution. In the present evolutionary context, social rank is obtained on the basis of talent, charm, prestige, and an ability to win the favor of others in the social landscape. ... shame permits an assessment of how favorably one is viewed by others. ... alerts the individual to start the work of repairing a damaged reputation or restoring compromised social standing.
Guilt appears to have evolved out of a separate system that mediates caring, affection, empathy, and motivations to avoid harming important others. Humans, perhaps more than any other species, have profited enormously from the fruits of group living, cooperative bonds, and reciprocal commitments. Natural selection seems to have favored genes that facilitated the forging of close relationships that permit cooperation with respect to the procurement of resources (eg food, information, shelter), defense from external threats, and other important tasks. A large portion of the human affective apparatus is devoted to support of the formation, maintenance, and regulation of close bonds. Regulatory mechanisms aimed at addressing actual or potential damage to these bonds are equally important. Guilt is one such mechanism. Anticipated guilt promotes sensitivity to the mere prospect of harm, thereby supplying an affective prohibition against socially destructive behavior. Experienced guilt in the aftermath of harm marshals appropriate responses (eg apology, confession, repair) aimed at restoring relationships. As such, whereas shame is fundamentally about reparation of a damaged self, guilt is fundamentally about reparation of a damaged relationship."
Guilt appears to have evolved out of a separate system that mediates caring, affection, empathy, and motivations to avoid harming important others. Humans, perhaps more than any other species, have profited enormously from the fruits of group living, cooperative bonds, and reciprocal commitments. Natural selection seems to have favored genes that facilitated the forging of close relationships that permit cooperation with respect to the procurement of resources (eg food, information, shelter), defense from external threats, and other important tasks. A large portion of the human affective apparatus is devoted to support of the formation, maintenance, and regulation of close bonds. Regulatory mechanisms aimed at addressing actual or potential damage to these bonds are equally important. Guilt is one such mechanism. Anticipated guilt promotes sensitivity to the mere prospect of harm, thereby supplying an affective prohibition against socially destructive behavior. Experienced guilt in the aftermath of harm marshals appropriate responses (eg apology, confession, repair) aimed at restoring relationships. As such, whereas shame is fundamentally about reparation of a damaged self, guilt is fundamentally about reparation of a damaged relationship."
Kim S, Thibodeau R, Jorgensen RS. Shame, guilt, and depressive
symptoms: A meta-analytic review. Psychol Bull 2011; 137(1): 68-96.
Important questions to ask oneself: "Who is suffering?" and, "Who am I?" If we don't deeply clarify this for ourselves, we may unknowingly spend our lives agonizing over being killed by the alpha male in the pack, or being left behind by our tribe to starve alone on the tundra.
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