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Counterfactual thinking.

Roese, Neal J.·1997·Psychological Bulletin

DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.121.1.133

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Abstract

Counterfactuals are mental representations of alternatives to the past and produce consequences that are both beneficial and aversive to the individual. These apparently contradictory effects are integrated in a functionalist model of counterfactual thinking. The author reviews research in support of the assertions that (a) counterfactual thinking is activated automatically in response to negative affect, (b) the content of counterfactuals targets particularly likely causes of misfortune, (c) counterfactuals produce negative affective consequences through a contrast-effect mechanism and positive inferential consequences through a causal-inference mechanism, and (d) the net effect of counterfactual thinking is beneficial.

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“This finding may also be explained if we consider that prolonged dwelling over past decisions and actions often includes our consideration of alternative courses of actions that could have been taken (Roese, 1997).”
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Authors: Roese, N. J.
Affiliations: Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author: Roese, Neal J.
ORCID: Roese, Neal J.
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1997
Volume: 121
Issue: 1
Pages: 133-148
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.121.1.133
OpenAlex: W4246855866
Cited by: 1,156
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 50 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 87 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 73 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 62 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 38
FWCI: 13.68
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords: counterfactual reasoning, counterfactuals, negative affect, contrast effects, causal inference, misfortune, functionalism
MeSH terms: Anger, Depression, Humans, Internal-External Control, Motivation, Problem Solving, Social Perception, Thinking

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