Kahetsus

Kahetsus is the Estonian word for regret or remorse. It describes the emotional state that follows the evaluation that a past action, decision, or outcome was undesirable, and it often involves wishing that something could have been different. The term covers a range from mild disappointment to deeper moral remorse, depending on the context and the perceived impact on others.

In psychology, kahetsus arises from counterfactual thinking—imagining alternate outcomes—and from moral appraisal when one believes harm or failure resulted from one’s actions. Regret is frequently future-oriented, focusing on how to change choices, while remorse emphasizes responsibility and guilt about one’s conduct. People may experience arousal, sadness, frustration, or restlessness, and signs can include rumination or repeated mental replay of past events.

Adaptive function plays a key role: regret can promote learning, caution, and improved decision-making. However, excessive or persistent kahetsus can be associated with mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, particularly when it involves pervasive self-blame or rumination. Coping strategies include cognitive reappraisal, acceptance, problem solving, setting future goals, and seeking social support.

Culturally, kahetsus features in Estonian everyday speech and literature as a way to convey personal accountability and moral nuance. It is distinct from guilt or clinical remorse, though there is overlap, and in clinical contexts terms for regret and remorse may be analyzed separately to understand mood, motivation, and behavior.