Regretting our behaviour, choice and impulsiveness in a temporal perspective

Abstract

This study researched several variables that help explain the experience of regret. Participants (N = 238) completed the I-7 Impulsiveness Questionnaire before assuming the role of the main character in four stories. Following the negative outcome in each story, participants completed quantitative and qualitative dependent measures. Data were analysed using Term (short, long), Choice (action, inaction), and Impulsiveness (low, high) as independent variables and regret as the principle dependent va iable. Results showed that participants expressed (a) higher levels of regret in the short term than in the long term, (b) higher levels of regret under high impulsiveness only in the long term but lower levels of regret under low impulsiveness only in the short term, and (c) higher levels of regret for females than for males. These findings suggest that term and gender are two important variables for explaining intensity of regret.