When Counterfactuals Become Dysfunctional: Causes and Self-Regulation

This symposium reviews conflicting evidence regarding the functional theory of counterfactual thinking and gives real life examples of counterfactuals that lead to dysfunctional behavior, such as risky decision making. We then suggest how dysfunctional counterfactuals can be self-regulated. The symposium argues for a nuanced view in research on counterfactuals.