Understanding the Psychology of Guilt – Anticipated Guilt and Going Against One's Self-interest – Chapter 4

Still, some people find it difficult to ask for lent money to be paid back, even though it is in their own interest that this happens and they have the legitimate right to ask their money back. In this article, we examine one reason why people might experience such difficulties: the anticipation of guilt.

In Study 4.1, the majority of participants from 3 different countries indicated that they sometimes did not ask money back because doing so would make them feel guilty. Study 4.2 found that the more people anticipated guilt about asking their money back, the less willing they were to do this. Study 4.3 found that the effect of guilt became less strong when more money was at stake.