Why Misery Loves Company: The Role of Self-Forgiveness in Reducing Regret Through Media Consumption

ABSTRACT

Building on the existing research on the role of media use in coping with negative emotions, this article seeks, first, to replicate previous findings that media consumption may reduce regret and, second, to extend that work by investigating the regret-related cognitive mechanism through which regret reduction occurs. The possible negative consequences of regret reduction are also explored. Four hundred undergraduate women, 30% of whom had previously had a one-night stand (ONS) with differing degrees of lingering regret, watched one of six versions of a television program representing ONS behavior. Results largely replicated earlier research (Nabi, Finnerty, Domschke, & Hull, 2006) in terms of program enjoyment and regret reduction. Further, self-forgiveness emerged as the single predictor of regret reduction, though it also increased perceived likelihood of a future ONS. Conversely, learning from past mistakes associated with higher post-viewing regret, but lower perceived ONS likelihood. The complicated role of entertainment media as coping devices and the need to explore message features the might promote effective coping are emphasized.