regret

Regret is an emotion that arises when a person believes that a different past action would have yielded a better outcome, typically involving counterfactual thinking about what might have been.

Common forms are action regret (what one did) and inaction regret (what one did not do). The intensity of regret depends on perceived control and the availability of alternative options.

Psychological processes include self-evaluation and disappointment, with anticipated regret shaping future choices. Neurologically, evaluative and emotional circuits involving the prefrontal cortex and limbic system are implicated. In economics, regret theory posits that choices are influenced by the prospect of potential regret.

In decision making, regret can promote learning and precaution but chronic regret is associated with rumination and reduced well-being. It is distinct from guilt or remorse, which involve moral wrongdoing and self-reproach.

Coping strategies include cognitive reappraisal, problem-solving, and acceptance; therapeutic approaches address rumination and counterfactual thinking.

Related concepts include counterfactual thinking, disappointment, remorse, regret theory, decision making, and emotional regulation.