The effects of age-related positivity on autobiographical memories and counterfactual thoughts of regret

The current study examined the age-related positivity effect on the biggest regret memories and their upward counterfactuals. Socioemotional selectivity theory claims that with increasing age, a positivity effect is observed, such that positive information is more likely to be attended to and memorized. The opportunity principle states that when there is no opportunity to change the situation, regret evolves to be functional. Based on these, it was hypothesized that regret memory's negative affect would decrease, and positive affect would increase across adulthood. One hundred seventeen participants between the ages of 18 to 84 were included in the study. The number of young, middle-aged, and older participants was equal. The research was conducted with an online survey. All participants were instructed to first evaluate the phenomenological experience of their biggest regret memory, and then its upward counterfactual with regard to positivity, positive and negative affect, and centrality to identity and life story. The results showed three main findings: (1) As expected, regret memory was found more negative and intense than its counterfactual. (2) The evaluations of regret memory and its related counterfactual did not differ across the adulthood. (3) The relationship between positive affect of the regret memory and age was positively correlated. Age predicted the positive affect of the regret memory. The results were explained with the development of a positive perspective for the negatively evaluated memory. The findings are discussed in the context of the opportunity principle of regret, cognitive decline, cognitive resonance, wisdom, and fading affect bias.