Regret
1. Regret is an intelligent (and/or emotional) dislike for personal past acts and behaviours. Regret is often felt when someone feels sadness, shame, or guilt after committing an action that the person later wishes that they had not done. Regret is distinct from guilt, which is a deeply emotional form of regret — one which may be difficult to comprehend in an objective or conceptual way. In this regard, the concept of regret is subordinate to guilt in terms of its "emotional power." By comparison, shame typically refers to the social (rather than personal) aspect of guilt or (in minor context) regret as imposed by the society or culture (enforcement of ethics, morality), which has substantial bearing in matters of (personal and social) honor. Regret can describe not only the dislike for an action that has been committed, but also, importantly, regret of inaction. Many people find themselves wishing that they had done something in a past situation.
Fictional usage
In the 1999 computer game, Planescape: Torment, it is suggested that regret is the strongest emotion and can change the nature of a man. Regret affects many characters in the game, especially the main character, causing him to initiate the chain of events that eventually result in the main plotline.
References
- Hein, David. "Regrets Only: A Theology of Remorse." The Anglican 33, no. 4 (October 2004): 5-6.
