Across Asia, guilt is more than a feeling. It’s a force that’s both familiar and intangible at the same time. Shaped by centuries of philosophy, power structures, and cultural expectations, guilt calibrates our moral compass and sets social norms. Where does guilt come from and how does it steer our societies forward?

Social psychologist Elaine Fernandez travels across India, China, Japan and the Philippines to uncover the hidden architecture of guilt across Asia. How is it taught, wielded, resisted, and reimagined? She explores these questions and the impact they have on the region with journalists, academics, artists and content creators.

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