Counterfactual Reasoning

Question 1

Counter factual reasoning

Answer 1

Ability to reason about situations and events removed from current reality

Think about past and future, situations with multiple possible outcomes

Underline many complex cognitive skills

Separate ourselves from current reality
Mentally construct alternative version of the world in which one thing has changed
Track how single change would have affected rest of world

Question 2

Thinking about what might have been

RIGGS ET AL (1998)

Answer 2

Riggs et el:

• story of fireman-still be at home
• 47% of 3yr olds answered correctly

Harris et al:

• muddy shoes on dirty floor
• 75% of 3 yrs correct

Question 3

Future vs past

ROBINSON & BECK (2000)

Answer 3

Past Q- if driven other way
-3yr= 30% correct

Future Q- if next time drives other way
-3yr= 95% correct

Question 4

Mouse game

BECK ET AL (2006)

Answer 4

Slide with 2 outlets
Cotton wool to land safely

What if next time goes other way (single possibility)
Can you put cotton wool to make sure mouse lands safely next time (two possibilities)

Question 5

Regret and relief

Answer 5

More difficult than understanding happiness and sadness

Requires us to consider how the situation compares to other possible alternatives

Regret- negative reactions arise from comparing one particular outcome in relation to an alternative

Relief- positive reactions arise from comparing one particular outcome in relation to an alternative

Question 6

Understanding others emotions

AMSEL ET AL (2003)

Answer 6

Choose between two cards, reward based on card chosen

5yr correctly judged how ppt would feel

7yr showed understanding of how people would feel if they found out a better or worse alternative could’ve been chosen

Question 7

Adults feel worse when

KAHNEMAN & TVERSKY (1982)

Answer 7

Negative outcome arises through something they choose to do

Negative outcome arises following an unusual choice of action