Development of abilities to experience, anticipate, and use regret

Abstract

The present study investigated how ability to experience, anticipate, and use regret developmentally change through life. Although two lines of research, child developmental research and aging research, have investigated how regret develops, there are few studies that can bridge their findings. The present study examines the development of regret, focusing on (i) emotional and cognitive components and (ii) experience and anticipation processes, and (iii) behavioral consequences of regret. After reading a vignette in which people would feel regret, participants, aged 15 to 86 years, answered questions about their anticipated feelings, experienced emotional and cognitive regret, and behavioral responses. Results showed that whereas older people were less likely than younger people to produce counterfactuals (cognitive element), there was no age difference in the emotional element of experienced regret, anticipated regret, and behavioral improvement following regret. Additionally, older people were more likely than younger people to avoid feedback, which could lead to regret. The influence of age on regret and its functions are discussed.