The bounded rationality of probability distortion

Hang Zhang, Xiangjuan Ren, Laurence T. Maloney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In decision making under risk (DMR) participants’ choices are based on probability values systematically different from those that are objectively correct. Similar systematic distortions are found in tasks involving relative frequency judgments (JRF). These distortions limit performance in a wide variety of tasks and an evident question is, Why do we systematically fail in our use of probability and relative frequency information? We propose a bounded log-odds model (BLO) of probability and relative frequency distortion based on three assumptions: 1) log-odds: probability and relative frequency are mapped to an internal log-odds scale, 2) boundedness: the range of representations of probability and relative frequency are bounded and the bounds change dynamically with task, and 3) variance compensation: the mapping compensates in part for uncertainty in probability and relative frequency values. We compared human performance in both DMR and JRF tasks to the predictions of the BLO model as well as 11 alternative models, each missing one or more of the underlying BLO assumptions (factorial model comparison). The BLO model and its assumptions proved to be superior to any of the alternatives. In a separate analysis, we found that BLO accounts for individual participants’ data better than any previous model in the DMR literature. We also found that, subject to the boundedness limitation, participants’ choice of distortion approximately maximized the mutual information between objective task-relevant values and internal values, a form of bounded rationality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)22024-22034
Number of pages11
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume117
Issue number36
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 8 2020

Keywords

  • Bayesian inference
  • Decision under risk
  • Efficient coding
  • Frequency judgment
  • Mutual information

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The bounded rationality of probability distortion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this