Abstract
This study examined the relation of shame- and guilt-proneness to law-abiding, altruistic and self-actualizing orientations in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The investigation found that shame-proneness was generally negatively related to the law-abiding and self-actualizing orientations; but not related to altruistic orientations. Guilt-proneness was associated positively with law-abiding, altruistic and self-actualizing orientation. The study also revealed the gender and age effects on shame- and guilt-proneness among the subjects. Female adolescents were found to be significantly more prone to guilt; and higher age group adolescents were more prone to shame. Moreover, the gender effect exhibited as female students were more altruistic to their first kin or close relatives; and the age effects was showed as higher grade students were generally more law-abiding. Implications of constructive use of proneness to guilt in moral education are also discussed in the study.
| Keywords: | shame-proneness; guilt-proneness; law-abiding; self-actualization; altruistic orientation; Chinese adolescents; moral education |
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