Issa's Dance of Guilt in Her Relationship Decisions

Issa Dee navigates a tumultuous journey of love, self-discovery, and the complex web of emotions that accompany it. One prominent emotion that threads through Issa's narrative is guilt, a self-conscious emotion that arises when one believes they've violated their internal values. In this blog post, we'll delve into a specific example from Season 1, where Issa's infidelity triggers a cascade of guilt, examining the appraisals and attributions that led to this self-conscious emotion and why guilt, and not another, took center stage.

Guilt typically arises when an individual believes they have violated their own internal standards or values and thus affecting someone else negatively, resulting in remorse or a desire to make amends. Throughout the series, Issa's character undergoes various situations that elicit self-conscious emotions, and examining a specific example can provide insights into the appraisals and attributions triggering guilt.

In Season 1, Issa's romantic relationship with Lawrence faces challenges, and she grapples with feelings of dissatisfaction. During this period, Issa makes a regrettable choice and cheats on Lawrence with her ex-boyfriend, Daniel. The aftermath of this decision triggers the self-conscious emotion of guilt.

Appraisals/Attributions

Violation of Values 

Issa, true to her character's depth, possesses internal standards of commitment and loyalty. The act of cheating violates these values, leading to the immediate assessment that she has transgressed against her own moral compass.

Anticipated Consequences

Guilt intensifies as Issa anticipates the emotional impact her actions will have on Lawrence and the potential damage inflicted on their relationship. The emotional fallout becomes a significant factor in the amplification of her guilt.

Why Guilt and Not Another Self-Conscious Emotion?

Guilt vs. Shame 

Issa's guilt is primarily focused on the specific behavior of cheating and the harm caused to Lawrence. Guilt often revolves around a specific behavior and the desire to rectify it (outward-focused). In contrast, shame is a more global evaluation of the self as fundamentally flawed (inward-focused), and Issa's guilt is more situation-specific (although she goes through questioning her moral values and her self-worth in the process of evaluating her relationship with Lawrence).

Guilt vs. Embarrassment

Guilt typically involves a sense of responsibility for one's actions and a desire to make amends. In Issa's case, her guilt is tied to the recognition of her own wrongdoing in the context of her relationship. Embarrassment, on the other hand, might arise from a concern about how others perceive her, which is secondary to the primary focus on her violation of relationship values.

Emotional Impact

Issa's guilt is palpable in subsequent episodes as she grapples with the consequences of her actions. She attempts to conceal her infidelity but is haunted by the knowledge of her betrayal. The emotion of guilt becomes a driving force behind Issa's subsequent decisions, including her internal struggle to confess and her efforts to repair the relationship with Lawrence.

In essence, Issa's experience of guilt is intricately tied to her appraisal of violating her own values within the context of her relationship and the negative impact her actions have on her partner. The specific circumstances and the significance of her relationship with Lawrence contribute to why guilt, and not another self-conscious emotion, takes center stage in this particular scenario. 

Issa Dee's experience of guilt is a testament to the rich emotional complexity portrayed in "Insecure." It provides viewers with a window into the character's internal struggles and the intricate dance of emotions that accompany moral dilemmas