Counterfactual intensity

✍ Scribed by Lawrence J. Sanna; Kandi Jo Turley-Ames

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 198 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0046-2772
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0992(200003/04)30:2<273::aid-ejsp993>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

Counterfactual intensity, the strength with which counterfactuals are experienced, in¯uenced the magnitude of aective and preparative reactions. Intensity in¯uenced reactions when counterfactual numbers were held constant for samples of participants' actual experiences (Study 1) and contributed signi®cantly to responses over counterfactual numbers (Study 2) and reaction times (Study 3) after performing laboratory tasks. This was found when participants spontaneously generated counterfactuals (Study 2), and when participants responded to counterfactual statements (Study 3). As upward counterfactuals became intense, so did greater preparation and worse moods; as downward counterfactuals became intense, so did better moods and lesser preparation. Intense moods also conversely in¯uenced the intensity of counterfactuals (Study 3). Conceptual and methodological implications and possibilities for future research are discussed.