"Guilt feelings primarily have the function of binding child toauthority."
This principle can best be summarized in the following excerpt from A.S. Neill'sbook, Summerhill (1960):
"Guilt feelings are an impediment to independence; theystart a cycle which oscillates constantly between rebellion, repentance,submission, and new rebellion. Guilt, as it is felt by most people in oursociety, is not primarily a reaction to the voice of conscience, but essentiallyan awareness of disobedience against authority and fear of reprisal. It does notmatter whether such punishment is physical or a withdrawal of love, or whetherone simply is made to feel an outsider. All such guilt feelings create fear; andfear breeds hostility and hypocrisy."
Thus, Neill argues that guilt only serves to repress growth and learning. Aguilty child, according to Neill, is fearful, and fear promotes lack ofactualization. He would ask, doesn't a child filled with guilt choose to notlearn because he or she is fearful of what learning may entail?