Shame, Guilt, and Survivor’s Guilt in Gang Members: A Systematic Review

Gang members are often viewed as a high-risk population, yet their culture is frequently misunderstood. This systematic review examined qualitative and quantitative research on shame, guilt, and survivor’s guilt among gang members, emphasizing the long-term psychological effects of gang involvement. Electronic databases (PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Google Scholar) were searched for English-language studies published between 2013 and 2024, yielding twelve articles that met inclusion criteria. Findings contribute to the literature on guilt and shame, explore survivor’s guilt and its links to Machiavellianism and narcissism, and examine how these emotions interact and manifest in therapeutic settings.