The Experience and Regulation of Regret Across the Adult Life Span

Book chapter, 2011

How do the experience, anticipation, and regulation of emotion influence decision making and how does it change with age? Regret is a decision-related emotion that arises when a chosen outcome is, or is believed to be, worse than a nonchosen alternative. The experience and anticipation of regret has been linked to important real-life decisions. However, previous research on regret has, to a large extent, relied on younger participants and to date little is known about how and if the experience and anticipation of regret changes over the adult lifespan. Moreover, very little research has thus far addressed the prevention and management of regret (regret regulation) in decision making and, especially, age differences in such regulation. This chapter reviews evidence suggesting that there are good reasons to expect that older and younger adults may differ in their experience, anticipation, and regulation of regret due to both motivational and cognitive changes with age.