Tom and Julius are both in line for a movie,but it sells out before either of them can get tickets.Tom is the last person in line,but Julius is directly behind the person who got the last ticket.Based on the idea of counterfactual reasoning,why will Julius be more upset than Tom?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to counterfactual reasoning, we tend to focus on the alternatives that could have led to a different outcome. In this situation, Julius may feel more upset because he can easily imagine how he could have gotten a ticket - perhaps if he had arrived slightly earlier, or if he had pushed ahead of the person in front of him. Tom, on the other hand, knows that he was the last person in line and therefore had no chance of getting a ticket regardless of his actions. Therefore, the best choice is E.

Tom and Julius Are Both in Line for a Movie,but