Theoretical convergences in the psychology of counterfactual reasoning

Abstract

Counterfactual thinking is the comparison of reality with simulated alternatives. This paper presents a theoretical revision of theories on the psychology of counterfactual thinking going through history, establishing two main reflexions from an overall view: (a) Research on counterfactual thinking has contributed to the development and convergence be-tween significant theories that maintain a non-normative rationality concept of mind: the Heuristics and Biases Theory (together with the Normative Theory) and the Mental Models Theory, and (b) These three approach yield the emergence of the two main current theories in the Psychology of counterfactual thinking: the Functional Theory of Counterfactual Thinking and the Rational Imagination Theory. The convergence and complementarities of these theories allows for conclude that non-normative rationality and imagination accomplish a relevant function of learning.