ANTICIPATED REGRET AND TIME PERSPECTIVE - CHANGING SEXUAL RISK-TAKINGBEHAVIOR

In two studies we test the effects of anticipated affective reactions such as regret on behavioral expectations and behavior. These effects were examined in the context of sexual risk-taking behavior. More spec ifically, we tested the impact of the anticipated feelings associated with unsafe sex on sexual risk-taking behavior. We assumed a differenc e between the feelings about unsafe sex and the feelings people antici pate to have after this behavior. Two studies tested the hypothesis th at respondents who are induced to focus on their anticipated, post-beh avioral feelings are more likely to report negative feelings such as r egret and to adopt safer sexual practices than respondents who are ask ed to focus on their feelings about the behavior itself. Study 1 shows that anticipated feelings after unsafe sex were more negative than fe elings about the behavioral act itself, and that respondents who were asked to consider these anticipated feelings expressed stronger expect ations to reduce their risk in future interactions. Thus, asking respo ndents to take a wider time perspective, and to consider the feelings they would have after having had unsafe sex, resulted in 'safer' behav ioral expectations. Study 2 replicates the findings of Study 1, and al so yielded a reliable effect of the time perspective manipulation on a ctual, self-reported behavior. Respondents who were asked to report on their anticipated feelings after unsafe sex showed less risky behavio r in the five months following the experiment than the remaining respo ndents. Thus, the induced focus on post-behavioral emotions increased the likelihood of preventive behavior. Implications of these findings for behavioral intervention programs are discussed.