How we feel about an outcome often depends on how close alternative was to occurring. In four experiments, investigated whether predominantly White, middle-class, Canadian children (N = 425, Experiments 1-3) and American adults 227, Experiment 4) consider counterfactual alternatives when inferring other people's emotions. 1, 6-year-olds (but not 4- 5-year-olds) inferred that agent would sadder ...