The Time Traveler's Regret: Are Our Decisions Truly Ethical or Just Outcome-Driven?

Moral decision-making is a central point in psychology, yet the relationship between our ethical choices and the outcomes we expect remains underexplored. This study tested a novel method in which participants faced morally challenging dilemmas, received the consequences of their initial choices, and were then offered the opportunity to revise or maintain their decision. While hypothetical, the design simulated post-decision reflection and regret, offering insights into how satisfaction and surprise, two emotional responses tied to regret, affect moral flexibility. Satisfaction captured the emotional acceptance of the outcome, while surprise showed the degree to which the outcome violated initial expectations. Eighty-two participants completed six moral dilemmas using a time-travel-inspired structure. Binary logistic regression models showed that lower satisfaction consistently predicted decision change across all dilemmas (Exp(B) = 0.340-0.689), while surprise was significant in four of six (Exp(B) = 1.201-2.626). In contrast, moral identity, (trait-level predictor) was non-significant in all models. Qualitative analysis revealed reasoning based on principles in emotionally grounded dilemmas, but pragmatic or disengaged justifications in abstract scenarios. These findings suggest that moral decision change is less about fixed ethical values and more about emotional dissonance and the psychological need to justify or tolerate the consequences of one’s actions.