A Review of the Relationship Between the Counterfactual Thinking and Personality Traits

Counterfactual thinking refers to the mental simulation of alternatives to reality. Counterfactual thinking and
the personality traits are closely related. The relationship between counterfactual thinking(direction, amount, reasonability/ possibility, referent, and type) and personality traits was reviewed. Furthermore, the samples, methods, variables and con- clusions in related researches were summarized. The aim is to clarify the characteristics of the counterfactual thinking for different people of different personality traits and to study the relationship between the counterfactual thinking and the personality traits in depth. Further studies should focus on expanding the relationship between counterfactual thinking and the personality traits; strengthening the application of the relationship between the counterfactual thinking and the personality traits. Longitu- dinal studies should be taken into account. And the relationship between the counterfactual thinking and the time perspective is necessary to be studied. The application area includes recruitment, promotion and psychological consultation.