The role of anticipated regret in escalation of commitment

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Wong, Kin Fai Ellick; Kwong, Jessica Y. Y.
• 署名单位: Hong Kong University of Science & Technology; Chinese University of Hong Kong
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.92.2.545
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 545-554
• 关键词: escalation of commitment; regret theory; anticipated regret; emotion; decision making

摘要

This research tests the general proposition that people are motivated to reduce future regret under escalation situations. This is supported by the findings that (a) escalation of commitment is stronger when the possibility of future regret about withdrawal is high than when this possibility is low (Studies I a and 1b) and (b) escalation of commitment increases as the net anticipated regret about withdrawal increases (Studies 2a and 2b). Furthermore, the regret effects in the 4 studies were above and beyond the personal responsibility effects on escalation. This research indicates that people in escalation situations are simultaneously influenced by the emotions they expect to experience in the future (e.g., anticipated regret) and by events that have happened in the past (e.g., responsibility for the initiating previous decision).