http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/09/01/iowa-leads-way-on-child-manipulation-newest-study-finds-guilt-ridden-kids-less-likely-to-stab-peers-later-in-life/

Basically, a study was performed on two year old kids.  They were handed 
a toy, and told that it was very important to the researcher.  The toy 
was rigged so it would fall apart when the kids handled it, and they got 
a healthy dose of guilt out of it.

Fast forward a few years, and the kids who had "had the most acute 
reaction to breaking the toy had the fewest behavioral problems. The 
researchers posit that kids who are introduced to the 
soon-to-be-lifelong-companion guilt at an early age learn self-control 
and conscientiousness based on the memories of the terrible feeling 
generated by Letting Somebody Down."

Why do the researcher see this as being plausible?  It seems much more 
likely to me that the kids who (will eventually) have the fewest 
behavioral problems are the ones who are most likely to display an 
"acute reaction" to guilt.

In other words, while the researchers think that experiencing guilt 
teaches kids to behave, I think kids who behave are more likely to feel 
guilt.

Or am I missing something?

...Chambers

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