The authors propose definitions of guilt as a self-critical feeling
state and of conscience as a set of standards, to permit independent
assessment of their prevalence in a sample of 93 depressed, 29
schizophrenic, and 43 normal subjects. Patients with feelings of guilt
tended to have a more severe conscience and lower self-esteem. While guilt
is prominent in a moderate percentage of depressed patients, negative
self-esteem may form one of the cornerstones for depressed patients of all
types. The authors propose that the operational definition of
psychoanalytic concepts such as guilt and conscience permits a valid and
more rigorous test of clinical generalizations.
Abstract Teaser