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Evolving Concepts of Evolution: The Case of Shame and Guilt
Author(s) -
Folger Robert,
Johnson Michael,
Letwin Chaim
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
social and personality psychology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.699
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 1751-9004
DOI - 10.1111/spc3.12137
Subject(s) - shame , psychology , value (mathematics) , social psychology , epistemology , cognitive psychology , philosophy , computer science , machine learning
Evolutionary biologists often refer to a distinction between ultimate and proximate explanation. On the one hand, such a distinction points to important issues for social psychologists, especially in terms of what it means to say that people experience emotions such as guilt and shame. On the other hand, the value of the ultimate/proximate distinction depends on how it is understood because its application can be problematic. We illustrate the use and possible misuse of the distinction in terms of its application to the differentiation of the self‐conscious emotions guilt and shame.