What potential feeling might influence a person’s ethical decision-making process?

Guilt can significantly influence a person's ethical decision-making process because it often stems from a conflict between one's actions and their moral beliefs. When individuals feel guilty, it indicates that they recognize a misalignment between their behavior and their ethical standards. This emotional response can motivate a person to alter their behavior to align more closely with their values in the future or to make amends for their perceived wrongdoing.

In ethical decision-making, guilt can lead individuals to consider the consequences of their actions on others, prompting them to act in a more ethical manner. For example, if a property manager makes a decision that they later feel guilty about—such as neglecting a tenant's needs—they may be spurred to take corrective action or ensure that they handle similar situations more ethically in the future.

Other feelings like excitement, regret, and pride may influence decision-making but in different ways. Excitement might drive someone towards risk-taking behavior, which could lead to unethical choices. Regret typically occurs after a decision has been made that one believes was wrong, possibly leading to a future change in behavior but not necessarily influencing the initial decision-making process. Pride might bolster confidence in one’s choices but does not inherently lead to ethical considerations in the same way that guilt does. Thus,