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Related Experiment Videos

Are Actions Regretted More Than Inactions?

Feldman1, Miyamoto, Loftus

  • 1University of Arizona

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
|May 27, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Regret intensity from actions and inactions is equal, contrary to prior research. People report more regrets from inaction, possibly because they actively avoid potential regrets from actions.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Previous research suggested negative outcomes from actions cause greater regret than those from inaction.
  • This claim has been attributed to psychological mechanisms influencing regret perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intensity of regret stemming from actions versus inactions in real-life experiences.
  • To explore discrepancies between hypothetical and real-life regret studies.

Main Methods:

  • Participants described personally experienced, strongly regretted events.
  • Participants rated the intensity of their regrets.
  • Regrets were categorized as stemming from actions or inactions.

Main Results:

  • Participants reported a higher frequency of inaction regrets compared to action regrets.
  • Contrary to previous findings, the intensity of regret was similar for both actions and inactions.
  • Real-life regret content may differ from hypothetical scenarios due to outcome variability and anticipatory control.

Conclusions:

  • The intensity of regret does not differ between actions and inactions in real-life situations.
  • People may actively manage actions to prevent regret, inadvertently increasing vulnerability to inaction regrets.
  • Future research should consider real-world complexities in studying regret.

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