Associations among moral guilt and shame, personality, values, spirituality and religiosity were examined among 332 college students from a large Midwestern university. Students completed a 50-minute survey encompassing demographic questions and self-report measures of guilt triggered by different types of moral transgressions, shame, personality traits, values, spiritual transcendence, intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity. Open ended questions about personal experiences of guilt and shame, and about implemented means of coping with these emotions were also included.

Results indicated that females report significantly higher levels and guilt and shame than males. Guilt and shame triggered by different transgressions were found to be differentially associated with personality traits and values, suggesting that individuals experience more guilt and shame from transgressions that are in dissonance with held values and self-reported personality traits. Spirituality and intrinsic religiosity were positively associated with guilt, although the correlations were modest. Categorization of accounts of personal experiences of guilt and shame indicated "fail duty/expectations" as an important category of guilt and shame triggers, in addition to the ones used in the measure implemented in this study. Responses to questions about coping with guilt and shame suggested that these emotions may play an important positive role in individuals' moral development.