Alquist Jessica L, Ainsworth Sarah E, Baumeister Roy F, Daly Michael, Stillman Tyler F
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA
Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2015 Feb;41(2):268-83. doi: 10.1177/0146167214563673. Epub 2014 Dec 15.
Counterfactual thoughts are based on the assumption that one situation could result in multiple possible outcomes. This assumption underlies most theories of free will and contradicts deterministic views that there is only one possible outcome of any situation. Three studies tested the hypothesis that stronger belief in free will would lead to more counterfactual thinking. Experimental manipulations (Studies 1-2) and a measure (Studies 3-4) of belief in free will were linked to increased counterfactual thinking in response to autobiographical (Studies 1, 3, and 4) and hypothetical (Study 2) events. Belief in free will also predicted the kind of counterfactuals generated. Belief in free will was associated with an increase in the generation of self and upward counterfactuals, which have been shown to be particularly useful for learning. These findings fit the view that belief in free will is promoted by societies because it facilitates learning and culturally valued change.
反事实思维基于这样一种假设，即一种情况可能导致多种可能的结果。这一假设是大多数自由意志理论的基础，并且与决定论观点相矛盾，决定论认为任何情况都只有一种可能的结果。三项研究检验了这样一个假设，即对自由意志的更强信念会导致更多的反事实思维。自由意志信念的实验操纵（研究1 - 2）和测量（研究3 - 4）与对自传体（研究1、3和4）和假设性（研究2）事件的反事实思维增加有关。对自由意志的信念还预测了所产生的反事实思维的类型。对自由意志的信念与自我及上行反事实思维的产生增加有关，而这些反事实思维已被证明对学习特别有用。这些发现符合这样一种观点，即社会促进对自由意志的信念，因为它有助于学习和文化上重视的改变。
