Citation

Janoff-Bulman R, Sheikh S. Emot. Rev. 2011; 3(3): 325-327.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, International Society for Research on Emotion, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1754073911402379

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A proscriptive moral orientation, involving a focus on "should nots," is used to resolve a contradiction in the moral socialization literature made evident by findings related to shame. The traditionally accepted view that underregulation of morality (i.e., absence of internalized moral standards) accounts for increased moral transgressions by children of highly restrictive parents is reconceptualized as a problem of overregulation of proscriptive morality, reflected in the internalized focus on prohibitions. Implications of a strong proscriptive orientation for hypocritical punitive responses towards others and for the ironic role of sin emphasized in some religions are briefly discussed.