Richard Hogan: Guilt and shame are very Irish and very human emotions

In his day job, Richard Hogan meets many people who are carrying guilt and shame — here he explains why it's such a common human response

'Guilt and shame are present in nearly every conversation I have in my clinic,' says Richard Hogan. File picture: iStock

Guilt and shame, two evolutionary emotions that Irish people have a very familiar relationship with. Maybe even a love affair.

Working clinically, and being invited into people’s lives, is one of the great privileges in my life. You get a sense of what ordinary, decent people are struggling with every day.