guilt trip
Weaponized parental disappointment
A guilt trip is a deliberate attempt to make someone feel guilty, usually to manipulate their behavior: She laid a guilt trip on me for not calling more often.
The term suggests the guilt is manufactured or exaggerated rather than deserved.
As a verb, to guilt-trip someone is to apply this pressure: Don't try to guilt-trip me into going.
Coercion via feelings
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
- mind gamesPsychological manipulation tactics
- power playStrategic leverage attempt
leverage · tactics · ploy · scheming · exploitation · passive-aggressive · blame-shifting · victimhood
Painful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
compunction · pangs · penitence · self-condemnation · apology · confession · embarrassment · self-doubt
Female parent
- parentMother or father
- in-lawSpouse's family member
- grandmotherMother of a parent
- relativeConnected by blood
holiday · visit · phone call · obligation · disappointment · expectation · tradition · favoritism
emotional blackmail
Coercion via feelings
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
- mind gamesPsychological manipulation tactics
power play · leverage · tactics · ploy · scheming · exploitation · passive-aggressive · blame-shifting · victimhood · martyrdom
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
self-reproach · compunction · pangs · penitence · self-condemnation · apology · confession · embarrassment · self-doubt · insecurity
mother
Female parent
- parentMother or father
- in-lawSpouse's family member
- grandmotherMother of a parent
relative · holiday · visit · phone call · obligation · disappointment · expectation · tradition · favoritism · comparison
obligation
Required task or commitment
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- demandForceful request or requirement
coerce · compel · persuade · impose · stress · strain · intimidate · constrain · urge · nag
- passive aggressionsilent treatment, backhanded compliments, backhanded compliment, cold shoulder, eye rolling
- emotional appealsflattery, nostalgia, outrage, scare tactics, heartstrings
- emotional rhetoricpathos, emotional appeal, appeals to emotion, loaded language, loaded words
- unreasonable demandsimpossible task, unpaid labor, weekend work, rush job, scope creep
- accusationsaccusation, accuse, accuser, allegation, allege
- family dramafamily bonds, sibling rivalry, family reunion, kinship, family secret
guilt tripencouragement
Support spurring continued effort
positive reinforcement · ego boost · validation · praise · flattery
guilt tripsincere apology
Genuine expression of regret
honest conversation · straight talk · open communication · heartfelt apology · owning up
guilt tripabsolution
Formal clearing of guilt
forgiveness · exoneration · pardon · clean slate · peace of mind
guilt, guilty, guilt-ridden, guilder, guiltiness, ego trip, guilt complex, power trip