What emotional response is commonly associated with inflicting harm on others?

The emotional response that is commonly associated with inflicting harm on others is guilt. When an individual harms another person, they may experience feelings of remorse or shame about their actions. This guilt can drive individuals to apologize as a way to seek forgiveness and make amends. Acknowledging the harm done is often an important step in the process of addressing the emotional aftermath of such actions.

In contrast, other emotional responses like anger or aggression might be relevant in a different context, particularly in the moments leading up to the act of harming someone. However, they do not typically characterize the aftermath of infliction where guilt predominates. Similarly, hope and energizing responses are more oriented towards taking positive actions and moving forward, which does not align with the emotional consequences of having caused harm. Finally, sadness or withdrawal can represent a passive response; while it is possible for someone to feel sad after inflicting harm, the stronger and more common immediate emotional reaction tends to be guilt, which motivates apologies and reparative actions.