Sigmund Freud introduced to is the concept of The Super Ego – The moral cop that acts on behalf of our parents, Teachers, Religious Leaders and even society in their present.
It goes like this; Growing up, we internalized and introjected values and morals from the external environments. This might be what you heard your Parents telling you, Teachers showing you, peers reacting to you or religious leaders instructing you on the Should’s and Shouldn’t.. On the Do’s and Dont’s.
These images and words gets stored in a vast bank in the unconscious what Freud called the Super ego.
Anytime you want to take an action, the mind seeks permission from the super Ego on whether to go on or not.. if not then no permission is granted. Eg; A religious girl who feels hungry and wants to steal but avoids for it’s wrong according to the morals instilled in her.
But sometimes the Ego takes on an impulse without consulting the Super Ego or chooses to ignore it ie; When one takes an action that conflicts with the morals instilled in her superego. The super ego unleashes it’s moral weapon – Guilty. He feels guilty.
The super Ego isn’t all moral or good for it can sometimes flawed especially when it’s based on teachings that are flawed. For instance; Critical parents who oftenly tell their young children they will never amount to anything hence make them feel guilty for even trying or succeeding. Sometimes it can be too weak in that like in our case above where the girl felt guilt for stealing, another might not feel guilty for no such teachings were imparted in him.
Information gathered from Books and experiences can also be included here.
It therefore follows that any action of ours or impulse such as a thought that conflict with our personal values or moral values absorbed from the society will have us feel Guilt.Â