ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines a vision of the conscience that assumes, when an adolescent experiences emotions that are connected with a sense of self and self-esteem, the conscience is active. Our starting point for the theory of the conscience will be awareness of the self: that is, self-reflection is taking place. The emotional interplay that forms the conscience functions analogously to the emotion regulation that was discussed with respect to baby development. The conscience is the regulation of self-conscious emotions. Now, it involves a whole range of complex emotions which involve quite a number of cognitive and subjective evaluations. Though it is not a self-conscious emotion, the functioning of empathic capacity also contributes to the functioning of the conscience. Dutch author Esther Gerritsen is a master at capturing such internal wrangling in which the self is the subject of constant criticism: On the way back home, a woman walks towards me.
