Regret

Regret is a negative conscious and emotional reaction to personal past acts and behaviors. Regret is often expressed by the term "sorry." Regret is often a feeling of sadness, shame, embarrassment, depression, annoyance, or guilt, after one acts in a manner and later wishes to have acted differently.

Definition

Regret is a conscious negative emotional reaction to an undesirable situation. It is an emotion that occurs after one realizes or believes that their past actions or behaviors led to outcomes that were unfavorable or could have been better if they had acted differently.

Psychology

In psychology, regret is often associated with the feeling of sadness, shame, embarrassment, depression, annoyance, or guilt, after one acts in a manner and later wishes to have acted differently. It is related to perceived opportunity. Its intensity varies over time after the decision, in regard to action versus inaction, and in regard to self-control at a particular age.

In decision theory

In decision theory, regret (and anticipation of regret) can play a significant part in decision-making processes. The anticipation of regret can have profound effects on decision making processes.

In economics

In economics, regret theory models choice under uncertainty, taking into account the effect of regret and its anticipation.

In other fields

Regret is also often felt when someone feels sadness, shame, embarrassment, depression, annoyance or guilt after committing an action or actions that the individual later wishes that he or she had not done.

See also

• Remorse
• Contrition
• Repentance
• Shame
• Guilt (emotion)

References

Regret Resources
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