Remorse: Psychological and Jurisprudential Perspectives

This volume draws on Psychology and Law to present an interdisciplinary study of remorse. The psychological treatment first examines the definition, features, and relationship of remorse to other emotions. Secondly, the personal effects of remorse, as a form of psychological distress, and the effects of remorse on future behaviour are explored. Thirdly, the influence of remorse on judgments by other people are discussed. The legal analysis expounds the relevant law on remorse in sentencing as it is found in a number of jurisdictions, and then examines the jurisprudential and policy bases for such laws. Finally, the legal and psychological perspectives are integrated in a discussion of the role of remorse in restorative justice approaches. This book will benefit both theoreticians in Psychology and Law and practitioners in these disciplines