Guilt

Guilt is a powerful force in human affairs. It is what propels many human actions, good or bad. Feelings of guilt can take many forms. Going jogging can be interpreted as fighting feelings of guilt. Afterwards we feel better.

There is also the guilt parents feel when they let their kids down; or when they don’t spend as much time with them as they feel they should. Feeling like we should do something is often related to guilt. We should do something or we feel guilty for not doing it.

There is guilt entire groups have because they treated other groups badly in the past or feel they should do more to help elevate people with less opportunities.

Guilt can also be exploited by someone else to get us to do things. You can make other people feel guilty. This can work by showing them how well off they are and how much worse your situation is. The moral instinct and natural reaction will be for them to feel they should help you improve your situation. You’ve successfully guilt tripped someone into taking action. And that could be fair or not.