Hostname: page-component-89b8bd64d-dvtzq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-09T18:17:37.421Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The costs of giving up: Action versus inaction asymmetries in regret

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2013

Antoinette Nicolle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom. a.nicolle@hull.ac.uk k.riggs@hull.ac.uk
Kevin Riggs
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom. a.nicolle@hull.ac.uk k.riggs@hull.ac.uk

Abstract

Kurzban et al.'s opportunity cost model of mental effort relies heavily on counterfactual thinking. We suggest that a closer inspection of the role of counterfactual emotions, and particularly of action/inaction asymmetries in anticipated regret, may be important in understanding the role of opportunity costs in decisions to persist with a current task.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable