Upward and onward: direction of counterfactuals, future action, and well-being over time

Morrison, Michael

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/34494 Copy

Description

Title

Upward and onward: direction of counterfactuals, future action, and well-being over time

Author(s)

Morrison, Michael

Issue Date

2012-09-18T21:19:46Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Roese, Neal J.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Preston, Jesse L.

Committee Member(s)

• Roese, Neal J.
• Roberts, Brent W.
• Diener, Edward F.
• Berenbaum, Howard

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• counterfactual thinking
• regret
• affect
• behavior regulation
• adaptive behavior
• repetitive thought
• subjective well-being
• decision-making
• time course

Abstract

Functional accounts of counterfactual thinking (Epstude & Roese, 2008) argue that upward counterfactuals make us feel bad in the short-term but maximize outcomes in the long term. The short-term relationship is well-established, but the relationship of counterfactual thinking to behavior, affect and well-being over the long term has yet to be tested. Three experimental studies spanning different lengths of time uncovered that individuals who provided an upward counterfactual were more likely to subsequently take action to improve themselves and feel better over time about what they described, compared to those who provided downward counterfactual or factual event descriptions. Repetitive thought appears to play a role in these patterns. The findings provide new insights into the long-term adaptive value of counterfactual thinking.

Graduation Semester

2012-08

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34494

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Michael R.S. Morrison

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