Photo: qimono via Pixabay

Freud’s pleasure principle may have stated that we, as human beings are averted from pain, making us pleasure-seeking animals.However, a study says that feeling some negative emotions and exposure to them at an early age makes a positive difference in terms of future decision-making.

Based on a study made in Queen’s University, Belfast, entitled Do children who experience regret make better decisions?A developmental study of the behavioural consequences of regret, the feeling of regret helps children make better, future decisions.

Led by Dr, Aidan Feeney, a senior lecturer at Queen’s School of Psychology, the research composed of 326 Northern Ireland children.The kids were given the choice to open two closed boxes.Inside both boxes are stickers but one contained more than the other.Upon deciding, the children were asked to assess how they feel about the outcome and they found out that those who picked the box with the fewest stickers felt worse and thus, experienced regret through the process.

The next day, the same choice was offered to the same group of children and it showed that their previous decision made an impact enough for them to choose the box with more stickers.

Dr.Feeney said that more research is still required to provide a wider spectrum of expression of regrets and its effects since the study only covered children aged between five and nine years old.

"It could have significant value to children's development because of its role in decision-making.We're not saying teachers and parents should deliberately expose children to serious regret.But showing them how things would have turned out differently if they'd made an alternative choice could benefit them,” Feeney said.

As a safety measure, our emotions steer us away from pain.Previous experiences help us cope differently when faced with the same problem in the future.The study showed the positive effects of regret at an early age that can guide children on their decision-making especially if it will lead to serious consequences.