Counterfactual thinking and regulatory focus: Implications for action versus inaction and sufficiency versus necessity.

Roese, Neal J.; Hur, Taekyun; Pennington, Ginger L.

doi:10.1037/0022-3514.77.6.1109

Cited by 213Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsBehavioral Health and InterventionsSocial and Intergroup Psychology

Counterfactual thinking and regulatory focus: Implications for action versus inaction and sufficiency versus necessity.

Roese, Neal J., Hur, Taekyun, Pennington, Ginger L.·1999·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.77.6.1109

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Abstract

Counterfactual thinking is associated with regulatory focus in a way that explains previous empirical incongruities, such as whether additive counterfactuals (mutations of inactions) occur more or less frequently than subtractive counterfactuals (mutations of actions). In Experiment 1, regulatory focus moderated this pattern, in that additive counterfactuals were activated by promotion failure, whereas subtractive counterfactuals were activated by prevention failure. In Experiment 2, additive counterfactuals evoked a promotion focus and expressed causal sufficiency, whereas subtractive counterfactuals evoked a prevention focus and expressed causal necessity. In Experiment 3, dejection activated additive counterfactuals, whereas agitation activated subtractive counterfactuals. These findings illuminate the interconnections among counterfactual thinking, motivation, and goals.

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Authors: Roese, N. J., Hur, T., & Pennington, G. L.
Affiliations: Northwestern University (US)
ORCID: Roese, Neal J.
Venue: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1999
Volume: 77
Issue: 6
Pages: 1109-1120
ISSN: 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
1939-1315
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.77.6.1109
OpenAlex: W2075185513
Cited by: 213
References: 67
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 2.04
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (MH55578)
Topics: Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords: counterfactual reasoning, regulatory focus, promotion focus, prevention focus, causal sufficiency, causal necessity, dejection, agitation, motivation, goal pursuit
MeSH terms: Adult, Affect, Female, Goals, Humans, Male, Motivation, Psychological Theory, Surveys and Questionnaires, Thinking

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Counterfactual thinking and regulatory focus: Implications for action versus inaction and sufficiency versus necessity.

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