Counterfactual thinking and functional differences in depression

Abstract

The purpose of the studies reported in this paper was to evaluate the function of counterfactual thinking (CT) in depression. In Experiment 1, depressed and non-depressed participants were asked to imagine themselves as the protagonist of a hypothetical situation, and to think counterfactually about three different scenarios. The results showed that there was a similar CT style (in terms of direction, structure and focus of mutation) for the depressed and the nondepressed groups. It was also found that the perceived preparation for a future similar situation increased after CT and, contrary to our hypotheses, this effect was observed in both groups. In Experiment 2, a real-life situation was used (a course examination) in which participants experienced a negative outcome (a poor score on the test). Again, it was observed that depressed and non-depressed participants showed the same CT style, but non-depressed participants were more likely to use CT spontaneously. In addition, the second study showed further differences between the two groups: depressed participants not only showed a lack of cognitive benefi ts from thinking counterfactually (i.e., after CT they do not feel more prepared for future similar events, nor able to avoid a similar bad outcome, in contrast to the non-depressed participants), but also show a lack of behavioural changes (both intentions to change and actual changes over the subsequent week). In conclusion, these results provide evidence about the function of CT both in depressed and in non-depressed thinking, and highlight both the similarities and differences for these two groups.

“If Only I Had Done Better”: Perfectionism and the Functionality of Counterfactual Thinking

“…From a self-regulatory perspective, however, we argue that because nonfunctional counterfactuals lack the benefits of more motivating functional counterfactuals, they provide little benefit in terms of behavioral self-regulation and may be as problematic as the dysfunctional counterfactuals noted by other researchers (Markman & Miller, 2006;McCrea, 2008;Quelhas et al, 2008;Sirois, 2004). Identifying individuals who generate counterfactuals to enhance low perceptions of control but who do not adequately identify the means by which control can be regained because they lack the necessary elements that can help initiate behavior change is an important focus for future research.…”

How reason for surgery and patient weight affect verdicts and perceptions in medical malpractice trials: A comparison of students and jurors

“…Notions of assumption of the risk may also be related to other factors that influence individuals' perceptions of risk and their judgments about the acceptability of different risks, including a phenomenon known as counterfactual thinking (CFT) (Quelhas, Power, Juhos, & Senos, 2008; Slovic, 1987). Individuals engage in CFT when undesirable events occur, if the individual is able to conceptualize a positive outcome had another route of action been taken.…”

Effect of Motivational Goals on the Causal Realism of Counterfactual Thoughts

“…Several studies have demonstrated the pivotal role of counterfactual thinking in applied domains, such as consumer behavior (e.g., Tsiros, & Mittal, 2000;Zeelenberg, & Pieters, 2007) and marketing (e.g., McGill, 2000), organizational behavior (e.g., Ersner-Hershfield, Galinsky, Kray, & King, 2010; Morris & Moore, 2000), Downloaded by [New York University] at 11:36 29 July 2015 psychotherapy (e.g., Quelhas, Power, Juhos, & Senos, 2008), judicial decision making (e.g., Catellani, & Milesi, 2005), and crime control (e.g., Dhami, Mandel, & Souza, 2005). Depending on the context, the motivational goals of an individual who compares reality with a better, imagined alternative might either enhance causal realism and thus improve future decision making or compromise realism and contribute to a more positive emotional state.…”