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Counterfactual processing: Test of an hierarchical correspondence model
Author(s) -
Klauer Karl Christoph,
Jacobsen Thomas,
Migulla Gerd
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2420250508
Subject(s) - counterfactual thinking , psychology , normality , valence (chemistry) , contrast (vision) , multilevel model , hierarchical database model , causal model , cognitive psychology , social psychology , factorial , econometrics , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science , data mining , mathematical analysis , physics , quantum mechanics
Bouts, Spears and van der Pligt (1992) recently proposed an hierarchical correspondence model of counterfactual processing. They argue that counterfactual processing is governed by the correspondence between events and outcomes along three dimensions: the causal relationship of events and outcomes, their evaluative tone and their normality. Causal relationship, valence and normality of events and outcomes were varied in a factorial design within two story contexts. As in previous studies, subjects' mental simulations are found to be guided by the causal relationships and by correspondence in terms of normality. In contrast to Bouts et al. the data indicate that the evaluative tone does not have a strong impact. The findings are discussed in relation to the story used by Bouts et al. and in relation to the hierarchical correspondence model.