Counterfactual Plausibility and Comparative Similarity

Cognitive Science
Matthew L StanleyFelipe De Brigard

Abstract

Counterfactual thinking involves imagining hypothetical alternatives to reality. Philosopher David Lewis (1973, 1979) argued that people estimate the subjective plausibility that a counterfactual event might have occurred by comparing an imagined possible world in which the counterfactual statement is true against the current, actual world in which the counterfactual statement is false. Accordingly, counterfactuals considered to be true in possible worlds comparatively more similar to ours are judged as more plausible than counterfactuals deemed true in possible worlds comparatively less similar. Although Lewis did not originally develop his notion of comparative similarity to be investigated as a psychological construct, this study builds upon his idea to empirically investigate comparative similarity as a possible psychological strategy for evaluating the perceived plausibility of counterfactual events. More specifically, we evaluate judgments of comparative similarity between episodic memories and episodic counterfactual events as a factor influencing people's judgments of plausibility in counterfactual simulations, and we also compare it against other factors thought to influence judgments of counterfactual plausibility, su...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1991·Psychological Bulletin·D J Koehler
Oct 1, 1994·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·P M NiedenthalI Gavanski
Dec 16, 1998·Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·M ZeelenbergD Reinderman
Oct 11, 2002·Psychological Review·P N Johnson-Laird, Ruth M J Byrne
Nov 5, 2002·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Ruth M.J. Byrne
Sep 10, 2004·Developmental Psychology·Robert Guttentag, Jennifer Ferrell
Nov 14, 2007·Anxiety, Stress, and Coping·Ora Gilbar, Avi Hevroni
May 6, 2008·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Kai Epstude, Neal J Roese
Dec 1, 2010·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·John V PetrocelliZakary L Tormala
Jun 13, 2012·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Karl K Szpunar, Daniel L Schacter
Jul 24, 2012·Consciousness and Cognition·Felipe De Brigard, Kelly S Giovanello
Sep 24, 2015·Annual Review of Psychology·Ruth M J Byrne
Jan 1, 2003·Cognition & Emotion·David Mandel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 3, 2018·Cognition & Emotion·Felipe De BrigardDaniel L Schacter
Aug 6, 2020·Cognition & Emotion·Natasha ParikhFelipe De Brigard
Nov 5, 2019·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Jonathan PhillipsFiery Cushman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.