Previous studies have shown that people feel lucky in situations that could easily have turned into something worse. The present investigation was designed to focus more closely on the comparative aspect of luck, using a linguistic approach (Study 1 and 2) as well as self\u2010reports of perceived luck accompanying selected emotional episodes (Study 3). The participants in Study 1 were asked to comment upon the difference between describing a state of affairs as \u201clucky\u201d vs. \u201cgood\u201d. The term \u201clucky\u201c was frequently seen to imply a comparison process, sometimes expressing gratitude<\/i> (\u201cIt is lucky I have a family\u201d) and at other times envy<\/i> (\u201cit is lucky you have a job\u201d). This was confirmed in Study 2 where statements about self and other being lucky or unlucky were rated for implying comparison, gratitude, envy, concern, and impression of speaker. In Study 3, 60 students described situations in which they had felt grateful towards other people as well as towards \u201clife in general\u201d. Questionnaire answers revealed that they also had felt very lucky and had been thinking \u201cit could have been different\u201d. They also produced recollections of envy, which were rated to imply others’ good luck and own bad luck, which could easily have been interchanged (\u201cit could have been merdquo;). It is concluded that counterfactual thoughts are decisive for the experiences of luck, gratitude, and envy.<\/p>\n
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