Guilt-Proneness in the Development of Ethical Competence among Psychotherapists: Pathway Mechanisms and Practical Implications

Objective: This study aims to investigate how guilt-proneness influences the development of ethical competence in psychotherapists, with a particular focus on “repair-oriented guilt” as a motivational driver for ethical behavior. Methods: A three-year qualitative longitudinal observation was conducted with 30 psychotherapists at various career stages. Data were collected through interviews, supervision summaries, and ethical discussion records. Thematic analysis was used to construct a pathway model linking “personality structure, guilt-proneness, core ethical competence, and behavioral responses”. Results: The findings show that moderate and well-regulated guilt-proneness promotes ethical sensitivity, strengthens responsibility, and activates reflective and corrective behaviors. Repair-oriented guilt emerged as a key predictor of ethical maturity and was integrated into a preliminary assessment tool for use in practitioner selection and training. Conclusion: Guilt functions as a mediating moral emotion between ethical awareness and ethical action, playing a central role in the development of professional ethics. Building an organizational culture that supports “appropriate guilt” may enhance ethical competence and professional growth in psychotherapists.