The Power of Guilt - by Chris Moore (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Guilt is one of the most powerful (and unpleasant) emotions we experience. When we feel it, we want it gone. But it carries an important purpose we should learn not to ignore.

When was the last time you felt guilty? Chances are, you don't even want to think about it; most of us would rather not. But avoiding guilt is a mistake we have to stop making if we want to improve our lives, our relationships, and our mental health.

Drawing on extensive research into psychology, psychotherapy, philosophy, legal studies, and comparative religion, The Power of Guilt offers a new perspective. In this fascinating deep dive, readers will learn:
- The evolutionary origins of guilt, what its real purpose is, and how it
impacts us
- Why we should view guilt as a healthy emotion--and even be grateful for it
- How to reframe guilt as an opportunity to grow and strengthen our
relationships
- Why collective guilt holds the potential for driving social change

Our ability to feel guilt is a gift, not a burden. We need only change the way we respond to it. The Power of Guilt offers an engaging and eye-opening journey through one of the most notortious and underutilized emotions.

Review Quotes

"This book will completely change your relationship with guilt."
--Samra Zafar, MD

physician and bestselling author of A Good Wife "A thoughtful, timely, multidimensional meditation on how--and why--guilt can shape and script our lives."
--Jillian Horton, MD, author of We Are All Perfectly Fine

"Chris Moore has written a beautiful and moving book on the 'emotional cocktail' of guilt. He weaves together personal experience and the best of psychological science to help us understand an emotion that is frequently present in our lives."
--Jennifer Jenkins, coauthor of Understanding Emotions

"In The Power of Guilt, Chris Moore blends a gripping personal story with clear science to show what guilt is for, how it develops, and how it shapes our families, faiths, laws, and communities--ultimately revealing its surprising power to heal. You may not enjoy feeling guilty, but with the tools here, you'll learn to listen to it, make amends, and move forward with stronger connections to the people you love--and to yourself."
--Greg Wells, PhD, author of The Ripple Effect

About the Author

Dr. Chris Moore is a professor of psychology and former dean of science at Dalhousie University in Canada, as well as a former Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto. He holds a PhD in developmental psychology from the University of Cambridge and an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College. He has spent his career studying human social understanding and relations, and has published well over 100 research papers, edited 5 books and special issues of academic journals, and authored The Development of Commonsense Psychology (Psychology Press, 2006). He has had numerous invitations to present at academic conferences and universities around the world and has enjoyed many research collaborations in Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany, China, and the UK. Moore's work has been cited in mainstream print publications such as Psychology Today, Today's Parent, and the New York Times. His research has also been featured in a variety of TV documentaries, including The Nature of Things and the Baby Human series on Discovery Health. This is his first book for a general audience. He lives in Nova Scotia with his family