What is the specific association that distinguishes Guilt from Sadness?

Guilt, a more complex social emotion, relates specifically to actions that transgress one's own moral standards, prompting a desire for repair or reconciliation.

Sadness and guilt both fall under the negative affect classification but stem from different sources and elicit different internal motivations. Sadness is commonly linked to experiences of loss or disappointment and typically results in lower energy levels or a tendency toward withdrawal behaviors. Guilt, however, is fundamentally tied to self-evaluation following specific actions. When an individual experiences guilt, it signals that they have violated their internal moral code, leading to a subsequent motivation aimed at making amends, seeking repair, or reconciliation for the transgression committed.