The 4 Advantages Of Counterfactual Reasoning: Thinking About What Could Have Been And Was Not
What if I had dared? What if I had said yes? These and a thousand other questions are typical of counterfactual reasoning. It consists of imagining alternative realities to our current reality, with all the emotional implications that this entails.
I am going to put an example. Imagine the typical movie in which a girl (or boy) is meeting two boys at the same time. There comes a point when the situation is unsustainable and you have to choose and bet on one of the two. She thinks, talks to her friends, evaluates and after much reflection, in the end she chooses. Months later, even though she is doing very well with that boy, thoughts like: “What if I had chosen the other one, what would my life be like now?” That is counterfactual thinking or reasoning: think about what could have been and wasn’t.
But… and what function does this thought have? Because, at first glance, it doesn’t seem to be very useful. Ruminating about a past that is no longer there or dwelling on decisions already made does not seem to make much sense… However, today we know that counterfactual reasoning can be useful in certain situations.
Science has shown that in certain situations this reasoning can help us give meaning to our lives. Below I summarize in four points why this thought can be useful.
1. Helps you learn from mistakes and prepare for a better future
This is one of the most frequent, and it is that How many times have we regretted our mistakes? … “If I hadn’t gotten out, I would have passed and now I wouldn’t have to study for remediation,” “If I hadn’t been so proud, we wouldn’t have gone three days without speaking,” “What if I had accepted the offer? Maybe now he would have double the salary…”
Here It’s not about beating ourselves, but about learning. We can’t go back, but we can stay home on the eve of the next exam, swallow our pride in the next discussion, and better consider the next offer that comes along.
2. Comfort and relieve
This function is performed in the face of situations experienced that have been uncomfortable, painful, embarrassing or unfair. It would be: “well, it could have been worse.” For example, “It took two days for the airline to return our luggage, but at least they didn’t lose anything” or “The appointment was a disaster, although thank goodness it was him and the one who tripped on the step.” not me…”. We are relieved to think that Within the bad, it has not been as horrible as it could have been.
3. Produces well-being and satisfaction
When? In situations where some success has been obtained. As? Imagining how bad it could have gone. It seems a bit masochistic, true, but there is an explanation behind it.
And thinking about how bad something could have gone and comparing it to how great it went, we feel tremendous satisfaction, pleasure and joy. Because? Because when comparing it, we feel even more proud of ourselves for having achieved that success or achievement.
Specifically, to memories. And here phrases like “it had to happen”, “it was destiny” or “things happen for a reason” come into play. With thoughts like: “it was destiny… I had to choose and if I didn’t get to go, I wouldn’t have met the person who is now my favorite author”, we reinforce the emotion of that memory and give it meaning: “I met her because destiny “He wanted it.”
We all like to keep in memory exciting situations that we experience so that we can remember them. Oh, yes, don’t put your hand in the fire when you talk to someone about a past event and each one assures that it was the way he tells it. It is more than proven that many times, without being aware, We “edit” and distort our memories so we create a “new version”.
Having seen these 4 points, we have learned that counterfactual reasoning is useful if we use it for these 4 purposes. For everything else, it is better not to pay attention to it, since it will bring us suffering, lamentation and discomfort. What’s the song say, I walked past.
