Graduate Student, Division of Clinical Psychology
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Thesis Title: Children's Thinking About Regret and Relief
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Sarah Beck
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About
My principal research interests lie in counterfactual thinking, the idea of “what could have been”. More specifically, I am interested in the development of the emotions associated with counterfactual thinking: regret and relief.
During my Ph.D, I ran ten studies around the country that have involved over 1,220 children from 3- to 9-years-old. Children played a game that prompted comparisons of actual and fictive outcome. I also investigated children’s understanding of the emotions of two characters in a story after they made a regretful decision. The results of these studies are useful for parents and teachers alike who may attempt to encourage children to consider “what they could have done instead”, only to find that this only falls on uncomprehending ears.
There is limited research into counterfactual thinking and mental health. Common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, are often associated with an excess of, or a deficit in, counterfactual thinking. This research has not extended to my own interests, child and adolescent mental health. From this lack of developmental literature, I have identified possible opportunities for a Clinical Psychology doctorate research project.
Contact Information
| Homepage: | |
| Address: | Self Help Services,
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| IM: | Twitter: @danwizey
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