Seeking Meaning and Growth: How Spiritual Practices Help Overcome Regret
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-17-2024 11:45 AM
End Date
4-17-2024 1:15 PM
Description of Program
Regret literature contains discrepant findings with regard to the role of action effect—whether it is the actions or inactions that elicit greater amount of regret following decisions. Current study explores the role of spirituality in understanding these seemingly conflicting findings by considering one’s spiritual attachment and religious coping styles.
Abstract
Regret literature suggests that psychologically people make a difference in how they ended up with a poor outcome—based on what they have done (i.e., actions) or failed to do (i.e., inactions). Initial studies (e.g., Kahneman & Tversky, (1982) demonstrated that it is failed actions that elicit more regret; however, subsequent studies have challenged these findings and suggest that it is the things people fail to do hurt that them the most (e.g., Gilovich & Medvec, 1994). When things go awry, facing the consequences of one’s decision will be affected by one’s spirituality. Spiritualty, more specifically one’s religious coping style, can impact how one makes decisions and in turn the amount of regret they experience as a result of those decisions. However, spirituality is a topic that has not been explored in regret literature. Thus, the present study aims to explore how spiritual beliefs affect experiences of regret and help to understand these seemingly conflicting findings regarding the action effect. We believe that the direction of the effect is contingent on the negative or positive religious coping styles one adopts. That is, developing a secure spiritual attachment with the divine might develop self-compassion and forgiveness. Then a spiritual individual is able to view past regrettable actions through a framework that allows for absolution of guilt. However, there are aspects of spirituality, which could cause a sense of heightened guilt. For example, the belief that one is being punished for wrongdoing and in turn might increase the amount of regret experienced.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Dr. Figen Karadogan
Seeking Meaning and Growth: How Spiritual Practices Help Overcome Regret
University Library
Regret literature suggests that psychologically people make a difference in how they ended up with a poor outcome—based on what they have done (i.e., actions) or failed to do (i.e., inactions). Initial studies (e.g., Kahneman & Tversky, (1982) demonstrated that it is failed actions that elicit more regret; however, subsequent studies have challenged these findings and suggest that it is the things people fail to do hurt that them the most (e.g., Gilovich & Medvec, 1994). When things go awry, facing the consequences of one’s decision will be affected by one’s spirituality. Spiritualty, more specifically one’s religious coping style, can impact how one makes decisions and in turn the amount of regret they experience as a result of those decisions. However, spirituality is a topic that has not been explored in regret literature. Thus, the present study aims to explore how spiritual beliefs affect experiences of regret and help to understand these seemingly conflicting findings regarding the action effect. We believe that the direction of the effect is contingent on the negative or positive religious coping styles one adopts. That is, developing a secure spiritual attachment with the divine might develop self-compassion and forgiveness. Then a spiritual individual is able to view past regrettable actions through a framework that allows for absolution of guilt. However, there are aspects of spirituality, which could cause a sense of heightened guilt. For example, the belief that one is being punished for wrongdoing and in turn might increase the amount of regret experienced.