I agree with Claudia that empathy is the best starting point. You will find some good leads to relevant research in Beyond revenge: The evolution of the forgiveness instinct by Michael McCullough. I am sure that you can find it at your favorite online book seller.
Dennis From: Claudia Stanny [mailto:csta...@uwf.edu] Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 10:18 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] student question I would go to the literature on empathy on this one. I expect the explanation would be similar to why we feel sad when we learn of a tragedy that happened to some one we know (or watching such things in a film). A more difficult question is why some people confess to criminal behavior they did not commit. There are documented cases of false confessions later exonerated through DNA evidence in the Innocence Project and Department of Justice case studies. _____________________________________________ Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D. Director Center for University Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Associate Professor NSF UWF Faculty ADVANCE Scholar School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514 - 5751 Phone: (850) 857-6355 or 473-7435 csta...@uwf.edu<mailto:csta...@uwf.edu> CUTLA Web Site: http://uwf.edu/cutla/ Personal Web Pages: http://uwf.edu/cstanny/website/index.htm On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 9:10 AM, Horton, Joseph J. <jjhor...@gcc.edu<mailto:jjhor...@gcc.edu>> wrote: Hi All: I received these questions from a student. I am hoping your collective wisdom will give me a good answer. How common is it and why do people who are innocent feel guilty? For example, when someone else is reprimanded, why does an onlooker suddenly flush and feel guilty? Or when a person accuses someone who is innocent, why do they suddenly feel shame even though they know that they are innocent? And what is the distinguishing factor that causes this feeling in some people but not others? Thanks! Joe Joseph J. Horton, Ph. D. Box 3077 Grove City College Grove City, PA 16127 724-458-2004<tel:724-458-2004> jjhor...@gcc.edu<mailto:jjhor...@gcc.edu> In God we trust, all others must bring data. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: csta...@uwf.edu<mailto:csta...@uwf.edu>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13144.1572ed60024e708cf21c4c6f19e7d550&n=T&l=tips&o=20512 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-20512-13144.1572ed60024e708cf21c4c6f19e7d...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-20512-13144.1572ed60024e708cf21c4c6f19e7d...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: dg...@randolphcollege.edu<mailto:dg...@randolphcollege.edu>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13169.2bfd597f06c032f81efb35e857e2dd91&n=T&l=tips&o=20514 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-20514-13169.2bfd597f06c032f81efb35e857e2d...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-20514-13169.2bfd597f06c032f81efb35e857e2d...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=20515 or send a blank email to leave-20515-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
