Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Published April 22, 2026 | Version v1 Journal article Open Anticipatory Guilt- The Cognitive Simulation of Future Moral Regret and Its Impact on Decision-Making Authors/Creators Assoc. Prof, .Melis AVCI (Researcher) 1 Show affiliations 1.
St. Clements University Description Anticipatory guilt refers to the pre-emptive emotional experience that arises when individuals mentally simulate the moral consequences of potential future actions. Unlike retrospective guilt, which is rooted in past behavior, anticipatory guilt is constructed through forward-looking cognitive processes that evaluate possible norm violations, perceived harm, and personal responsibility before an action occurs. This study examines the cognitive architecture of anticipatory guilt, focusing on mental simulation, counterfactual reasoning, and moral forecasting shape decision-making and behavioral regulation. Drawing on frameworks from cognitive psychology, moral cognition, and decision theory, the paper proposes that anticipatory guilt operates as a predictive mechanism that influences choices by activating internalized moral standards during the evaluation phase of action selection. The analysis highlights the role of prospective thinking and “if–then” reasoning patterns in generating emotional responses tied to imagined outcomes. It further explores how individual differences in attribution styles and sensitivity to social evaluation modulate the intensity of anticipatory guilt. The study also addresses the dual nature of anticipatory guilt. On one hand, it functions adaptively by discouraging harmful behavior, promoting ethical decision-making, and reinforcing prosocial norms. On the other hand, excessive or distorted anticipatory guilt—often linked to anxiety, over-responsibility, and cognitive biases—can lead to avoidance behaviors, indecision, and psychological distress. Neurocognitive perspectives are incorporated to examine how brain systems associated with future simulation and emotional processing interact in the formation of anticipatory guilt. Additionally, the paper considers the influence of sociocultural contexts, particularly in environments characterized by heightened visibility and social judgment, such as digital platforms. By conceptualizing anticipatory guilt as a forward-looking, cognitively mediated moral emotion, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how individuals regulate behavior before action is taken. The findings have important implications for clinical practice, especially in interventions targeting maladaptive forecasting patterns and excessive guilt in anxiety-related conditions. Files Article - Anticipatory Guilt- The Cognitive Simulation of Future Moral Regret and Its Impact on Decision-Making - Öelis Avcı.pdf Files (487.8 kB) Name Size Download all Article - Anticipatory Guilt- The Cognitive Simulation of Future Moral Regret and Its Impact on Decision-Making - Öelis Avcı.pdf md5:b045ed4f70e07e497c11f4fe09584c31 487.8 kB Preview Download 26 Views 22 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 26 26 Downloads Total downloads 22 22 Data volume Total data volume 10.7 MB 10.7 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19700512 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19700512) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19700512.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19700512 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19700512"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19700512.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19700512.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19700512 Resource type Journal article Publisher Zenodo Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created April 22, 2026 Modified April 22, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies