Regulatory Mode Effects On Action And Inaction Regret

Recently, personality and motive factors'influence on regret and counterfactual thinking had brought great interests of researchers. Regulatory fit is one of these factors. Based on translate and assess the reliability and validity of Regulatory Mode Questionnaire (Chinese version), using three paradigms, the present research aim at examine the moderate role of regulatory mode on the intensity and frequency of action and inaction regret, to provide empirical evidence for regulatory fit theory.Three studies were included. In study 1(Experiment 1), we assessed the reliability, time consistency, structural validity and criterion validity (with NEO-PI-R) of the Chinese version. In study 2 (Experiment 2 and 3 ), vignette and real decision game method were employed to examine the moderating effect of regulatory mode on regret intensity. In study 3(Experiment 4), a real-life-regret paradigm was used to moderating effect of regulatory mode on regret frequency.(1) Locomotion scale's internal consistencyαwas above 0.7; cross-temporal relations was 0.61; GFI, AGFI,CFI,NNFI which measuring the structural validity was around 0.9; Locomotion was negatively related to the NEO measures of neuroticism (r=-0.221**) ,and positively related to openness(r=0.337**) and conscientiousness(r=0.499**);(2) Assessment scale's internal consistencyαwas around 0.7; cross-temporal relations is 0.65; GFI, AGFI,CFI,NNFI was around 0.9; Assessment was positively related to neuroticism (r=0.337**) , and negatively related to agreeableness (r=-0.393**) and conscientiousness(r=-0.190**)(3) 80% of Chinese participants were locomotors; (4) High locomotors action regret was significantly weaker than inaction regret;(5) High assessors action and inaction did not differ significantly;(6) High locomotors reported significantly more inaction regret than action regret; Conclusions(1) The Chinese version of Regulatory Mode Questionnaire (a draft version) can be used to measuring people's regulatory mode orientation.(2) The majority of Chinese people's regulatory mode is locomotion.(3) Regulatory fit theory has a significant effect on action and inaction effect. The regulatory fit has a influence on regret both on intensity and frequency in memory.(4) Taking action is one of the behaviors fit with locomotion. Neither action nor inaction is fit with assessment.