Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Humans Cannot Accurately Predict Their Emotions After A Decision

by VR Sreeraman on August 18, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Humans Cannot Accurately Predict Their Emotions After A Decision

A new study has found that humans are poor at predicting their emotions after decision-making.

Behavioral research over the past 15 years has shown that after taking a decision, people tend to anticipate that they may regret their choices.

Advertisement

The new study, by the University College London researchers, has answered how accurate are people in their anticipations of regret and of other post-decisional emotions, such as disappointment.

In the first of two experiments, the researchers made the participants take part in a two-person negotiation for money that would allow the researchers to observe negotiation style as well as measure how much regret the participants would feel if their tactics failed.
Advertisement

The team found that participants across the board tended to over-predict their post-negotiation regret and disappointment if their transaction was rejected. However, those who negotiated reasonably (i.e., less aggressive or "greedy") were less prone to experience regret than the latter, as they had provided sensible offers.

In the second experiment, participants who had just completed a course assignment were asked to predict how they would feel if the grades that they received for their assignments exceeded, matched, or were lower than their expectations. On average, participants received higher than expected grades. However, the researchers found that participants over-predicted the rejoicing and somewhat under-predicted the regret that they experienced when they received the grades.

In the light of such misprediction of emotions, Nick Sevdalis and Nigel Harvey, who authored the study, argue that when people make decisions they should perhaps discount the regret, rejoicing, and other post-decisional emotions that they anticipate will be associated with potential outcomes arising from those decisions.

The study is published in the August issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Source: ANI
LIN/B
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Research News

Life Expectancy Gap for Autistic Individuals Revealed
Diagnosed autistic individuals showed increased premature mortality in the UK, highlighting urgent needs to address associated inequalities.
Exploring How Hearing Impairment Shapes Dementia Risk
Study reveals a correlation between hearing impairment and distinct brain region variances, contributing to dementia.
Coffee and its Role in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Financial impact of caring for individuals with neurodegenerative disorders reaches hundreds of billions annually in the United States.
Healthcare Industry Struggles With Tech Skills Shortage
Experts emphasize that addressing the skills gap demands immediate attention and innovative solutions, including education, re-training, and significant time investment.
Nano-Probes Uncover Cellular Reactions to Pressure
New study unveiled the cells' ability to adapt in responses and potential implications for conditions such as diabetes and cancer.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Humans Cannot Accurately Predict Their Emotions After A Decision Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests