ContextI have just been watching a documentary about survivors of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 2011.  Specifically the interviews with ordinary residents of the towns affected.One thing came through time and again was the notion that was best stated by a friend of mine*- a volunteer firefighter on duty in one of the affected towns on the day of the tsunami:what gives me the right to survive, when so many others died?QuestionObviously, this doesn't just occur in Japan, it seems to happen a lot, where people seem to feel guilty to have survived and feel a sense of responsibility for those who perished.  What is the psychological basis behind this?Are there any studies that have addressed this?Side notesI lived in Japan for 4 years and have many friends from the affected area, this friend of mine was and is still inconsolable that he, in his own mind, could not save more people.
What is the psychological basis of survivor's guilt?
social psychology;emotion