Research Description

My research focuses broadly on the areas of counterfactual thinking, hindsight bias, and subjective well-being. 

With respect to counterfactual thinking, my work has focused on the primary determinants of regret intensity, the relationship between counterfactual thinking, behavior, and affect over time, and the extent to which previously established regret effects generalize to the wider American population. 

My research on hindsight bias has focused primarily on how the feeling of "knowing it all along" relates to affect regulation, in particular, how and when it can make people feel better following a major outcome.

The work I have done in the area of subjective well-being has focused on worldwide patterns in the relationship of life satisfaction with such variables as national pride, age and gender. I've also examined the optimal levels of well-being for achieving material success versus social sucess.

Education

• M.A. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B. Sc. University of Toronto

Recent Publications

Morrison M., Epstude, K., & Roese, N. J. (in press). Life regrets and the need to belong. Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Morrison, M., & Roese, N. J. (2011). Regrets of the typical American: Findings from a nationally representative survey. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 576-583.

Morrison, M., Tay, L., & Diener, E. (2011). Subjective well-being and national satisfaction: Findings from a worldwide survey. Psychological Science, 22, 166-171.

Roese, N. J., & Morrison, M. (2009). The psychology of counterfactual thinking. Historical Social Research, 34, 16-26.

Roese, N. J., Epstude, K., Fessel, F., Morrison, M., Smallman, R., Summerville, A., Galinsky, A., & Segerstrom, S. (2009). Repetitive regret, depression, and anxiety: Findings from a nationally representative survey. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28, 671-688.