In the article, "Guilt can do Good", the author writes about the effects guilt can have on preventing crime and on the person experiencing it. The author writes, "When people feel guilt, they tend to focus on behavior. Guilt is more proactive". Meaning, when people feel guilty they tend to not want to experience that feeling again and tend to not repeat the same sin. Another view of guilt as a punishment is that guilt-prone people tend to feel at fault and claim responsibility over the crime or sin they committed opposed to denying any sort of responsibility and not feeling to blame for the crime. In conclusion, guilt can be one of the best forms of punishment because it means the person has accepted responsibility and it is proven to reduce crime.

In the novel, The Scarlett Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character experiences a strong feeling of guilt which tremendously affects her. After being publicly shamed, Hester Prynne faces a much more difficult challenge, living with herself and her guilt. However, since Hester is living with her guilt, that means she has taken responsibility for her actions and will now be less likely to commit the same sin.