Sex differences in regret: all for love or some for lust?

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
Neal J RoeseDouglas T Kenrick

Abstract

Few sex differences in regret or counterfactual thinking are evident in past research. The authors discovered a sex difference in regret that is both domain-specific (i.e., unique to romantic relationships) and interpretable within a convergence of theories of evolution and regulatory focus. Three studies showed that within romantic relationships, men emphasize regrets of inaction over action (which correspond to promotion vs. prevention goals, respectively), whereas women report regrets of inaction and action with equivalent frequency. Sex differences were not evident in other interpersonal regrets (friendship, parental, sibling interactions) and were not moderated by relationship status. Although the sex difference was evident in regrets centering on both sexual and nonsexual relationship aspects, it was substantially larger for sexual regrets. These findings underscore the utility of applying an evolutionary perspective to better understand goal-regulating, cognitive processes.

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Citations

Mar 28, 2012·Psychology of Addictive Behaviors : Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors·Lindsay M OrchowskiBrian Borsari
Nov 15, 2011·Culture, Health & Sexuality·Maryanne L FisherTami Meredith
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
Aug 6, 2010·Social Cognition·Douglas T KenrickSteven L Neuberg
Jun 24, 2008·Journal of Consumer Psychology : the Official Journal of the Society for Consumer Psychology·Neal J RoeseFlorian Fessel
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May 6, 2008·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Joshua M Ackerman, Douglas T Kenrick
Aug 20, 2009·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Jens FörsterAmina Ozelsel
Jul 10, 2010·Journal of Attention Disorders·Stephen SchepmanAnthony Swentosky
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Mar 7, 2020·Culture, Health & Sexuality·Nicole L JohnsonJake A Wolf
Jul 14, 2021·Aging & Mental Health·Melanie M Y Serrao HillRick B Miller

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