Counterfactual Thinking

In psychology, counterfactual thinking involves imagining how the circumstances of our lives could have unfolded differently. You might ask people questions like: How would your stereotypes be different if you'd been born black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American? People gain humility when they reflect on how different circumstances could have led them to different beliefs. They might conclude that their past convictions had been too simplistic and begin to question some of their negative views.