Decision making

• What is stronger for events that are easier to mentally undo?

  Regret
• Why would someone feel more regret for missing a flight due to traffic?

  Because the situation is easy to mentally simulate as an alternative outcome.
• How does Mr. Brown's action of picking up a hitchhiker relate to his feelings of regret?

  • Mr. Brown feels more regret because picking up a hitchhiker is out of character for him.
  • This deviation from his default behavior makes it easier to imagine a scenario where he did not pick up the hitchhiker, preventing the negative outcome.
• How does Smith's habitual behavior affect his feelings of regret?

  • Smith's decision aligns with his typical behavior.
  • This alignment reduces the extent of regret he feels compared to Mr. Brown.
• What is the comparison standard for feelings of regret in Mr. Brown's case?

  • The comparison standard is based on the default situation.
  • For Mr. Brown, the default was to not pick up hitchhikers, leading to stronger regret when deviating from this behavior.
• What is the relationship between unusual actions and feelings of regret?

  • People experience greater regret when they take actions that are not their usual behavior.
  • This is particularly true if the deviation results in a negative outcome, relating to counterfactual thinking.
• Why are silver medal winners often the least happy among medalists?

  • They engage in upward counterfactual thinking, focusing on how close they were to winning gold.
  • This comparison leads to increased feelings of regret about their current outcome.
• What is the action effect in decision-making psychology?

  • The action effect indicates that actions tend to lead to greater feelings of regret if the outcome is negative.
  • This is due to a higher perceived responsibility for the outcome associated with actions.
• How does George's decision to switch shares affect his feelings of regret?

  • George feels a stronger emotional impact from a negative outcome because he actively chose to change the status quo.
  • This sense of agency makes the negative outcome feel personal and attributable to his decision-making.
• Why is inaction often more psychologically defensible than action?

  • Inaction is easier to rationalize because the perceived cause is attributed to external factors.
  • This leads to cognitive distancing and a sense of security in following the default route, resulting in less intense regret.
• According to Gilovich and Medvec (1995), when do people tend to experience greater regret?

  People experience greater regret over inactions when reflecting on their entire lives.
• What leads to regret in the short term according to the study?

  • In the short term, actions like making a bad investment lead to regret due to immediate and vivid negative consequences.
  • These consequences are directly attributable to a decision made.
• Why do inactions produce deeper regret when reflecting on life?

  • Inactions represent missed opportunities that could have had a significant positive impact.
  • These regrets grow more poignant as people consider what might have been.
• What do Roese and Summerville (2005) suggest about feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction?

  • Feelings of disappointment are strongest when opportunities for corrective action are clear and present.
  • The awareness of potential changes amplifies feelings of dissatisfaction.
• How does the awareness of agency affect emotional stakes in decision-making?

  • When people are aware they can still influence an outcome, the emotional stakes feel higher.
  • This awareness increases the tension between what has happened and what could still happen.
• What did participants in Condition 1 believe about their opportunities?

  • Participants believed they had more opportunities to continue, leading to more upward counterfactuals.
  • They were likely to think "I could have won" due to anticipated influence on future outcomes.
• How does upward counterfactual thinking enhance feelings of regret?

  • Upward counterfactual thinking involves imagining how things could have gone better.
  • This thinking naturally enhances feelings of regret by dwelling on missed opportunities.
• How does the lack of perceived chance for further influence affect feelings of regret?

  • When participants perceive no chance for further influence, they are less likely to think about changing the outcome.
  • This acceptance leads to less intense feelings of regret.
• What is incidental affect and how does it influence decision-making?

  • Incidental affect refers to unrelated emotions that influence choices.
  • For example, being in a good mood can affect risk evaluation and decision-making.
• What is anticipated regret and how does it affect parental decision-making?

  • Anticipated regret is the regret expected from negative outcomes of decisions.
  • Parents may anticipate emotional pain if their child is harmed due to a decision, influencing their choices.
• What critique does Kahneman provide regarding parental decision-making?

  Kahneman critiques that parents are unwilling to trade any additional risk for a lower cost, despite the risk increase being tiny.
• What alternative use of money does Kahneman suggest for parents choosing cheaper products?

  • Kahneman suggests that money saved could be used for other safety measures.
  • Examples include installing electric socket covers or other safety strategies.
• What is the focusing illusion as described by Schkade and Kahneman (1998)?

  • The focusing illusion is when people overemphasize peripheral aspects of living in a different region.
  • This leads to decisions based on initially appealing factors that do not significantly impact long-term satisfaction.
• How can awareness of the focusing illusion help individuals in decision-making?

  • Awareness of this bias can lead to more informed decisions.
  • It encourages consideration of real drivers of happiness rather than just novel or distinctive factors.
• What does immune neglect refer to in predicting future emotional states?

  Immune neglect refers to underestimating one's psychological resilience when predicting future emotional states.