"Remorse we can feel. Regret is what we live. But consequence is what lingers" - Futurist Jim Carroll
Let's talk about the science of regret.
I mean, why not?
It seems like a timely topic.
And I've most recently covered The Science of Stupidity and The Science of Mistakes.
So why not The Science of Regret?
I'm on a roll here. Buyers remorse and all that.
What should we know about regret? What should we understand about its nature, impact, and how our brains process it? After all, we might find ourselves around people (at this moment in time, in particular) who are deep in their emotions of regret, and are now thinking about the consequences.
First, what is the definition and nature of regret? I asked Google Notebook after pulling in a large number of articles and YouTube videos related to the science of regret.
"Regret is a negative emotion stemming from a disappointing life event, unchangeable choices, or things said that can't be taken back. It is a painful experience that includes blaming ourselves for a bad outcome.
Ok, that makes sense.
It went on:
- It's a complex emotion involving sorrow and responsibility for the consequences of one's actions.
- Regret is related to choice; it is felt when a wrong decision is made and one wishes they had decided differently.
- Feelings of regret show increased activity in the medial orbitofrontal cortex of the brain.
OK, since it might seem there is some regret unfolding around some areas of the world right now, faster than ever before, what can we understand about the emotions of those who are going through it? The answer is ... um ... interesting.
How Regret Differs From Other Emotions:
- Regret involves comparison and blame, differing from disappointment, which lacks the element of personal fault.
- While guilt is responsibility for specific wrongdoing and shame is a feeling of being flawed, regret combines elements of both, along with a desire to rectify harm.
...along with a desire to rectify harm... that sounds promising.
But wait. There's a lot more about the science of regret that might help you understand today's world.
**#Regret** **#Consequences** **#Psychology** **#Reflection** **#Remorse** **#Growth** **#Decisions** **#Emotions** **#Learning** **#Redemption**
Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2025/03/daily-inspiration-understanding-decisions-remorse-we-can-feel-regret-is-what-we-live-but-consequence-is-what-lingers/
Random aside: My coworkers and I triage an average of 50 to 150 customer feedback tickets per day.
In fact, I was actually quite good at flipping burgers. At 19 years old, I was on track to become an assistant restaurant manager at Hardee's.
But life took a different turn. I pivoted to being a lifeguard and swim instructor. Then eventually meandered into tech as a career.
