Guilt in Alcoholics: An Evaluation of the Mosher Guilt Scales

Abstract

The validity of the Mosher Guilt Scales was evaluated by comparing guilt scores of 25 adult males who had voluntarily placed themselves in an alcoholism treatment center with those of a control group of 25 adult males. It was hypothesized that the alcoholic group would demonstrate higher guilt than the control group as the presence of strong guilt feelings should lead one to seek to remove a major source of guilt such as excessive drinking. This hypothesis was substantiated by higher sex guilt and morality guilt in the alcoholic group than in the control group.