Counterfactual processing

Abstract

Bouts, Spears and van der Pligt (1992) recently proposed an hierarchical correspondence model of counterfactual processing. They argue that counterfactual processing is governed by the correspondence between events and outcomes along three dimensions: the causal relationship of events and outcomes, their evaluative tone and their normality. Causal relationship, valence and normality of events and outcomes were varied in a factorial design within two story contexts. As in previous studies, subjects' mental simulations are found to be guided by the causal relationships and by correspondence in terms of normality. In contrast to Bouts et al. the data indicate that the evaluative tone does not have a strong impact. The findings are discussed in relation to the story used by Bouts et al. and in relation to the hierarchical correspondence model.