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How does psychology vary across human societies? The fundamental social motives framework adopts an evolutionary approach to capture the broad range of human social goals within a taxonomy of ancestrally recurring threats and... more
How does psychology vary across human societies? The fundamental social motives framework adopts an evolutionary approach to capture the broad range of human social goals within a taxonomy of ancestrally recurring threats and opportunities. These motives—self-protection, disease avoidance, affiliation, status, mate acquisition, mate retention, and kin care—are high in fitness relevance and everyday salience, yet understudied cross-culturally. Here, we gathered data on these motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) in two cross-sectional waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which data were gathered in both waves. Wave 1 was collected from mid-2016 through late 2019 (32 countries, N = 8,998; 3,302 male, 5,585 female; Mage = 24.43, SD = 7.91). Wave 2 was collected from April through November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (29 countries, N = 6,917; 2,249 male, 4,218 female; Mage = 28.59, SD = 11.31). These data can be used to assess differences and similarities in people’s fu...
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Research Interests: Cognitive Science, Decision Making, Heuristics, Attention, Prediction, and 15 moreMedicine, Probability, Motivation, Humans, Models, Psychological, Gambling, Attitudes, Frugality, Expected Utility, Allais Paradox, Expected Utility Theory, Probability Learning, Choice Behavior, and Conflict Psychology
Supplemental material, Ko_Supplemental_Figure for Family Matters: Rethinking the Psychology of Human Social Motivation by Ahra Ko, Cari M. Pick, Jung Yul Kwon, Michael Barlev, Jaimie Arona Krems, Michael E. W. Varnum, Rebecca Neel, Mark... more
Supplemental material, Ko_Supplemental_Figure for Family Matters: Rethinking the Psychology of Human Social Motivation by Ahra Ko, Cari M. Pick, Jung Yul Kwon, Michael Barlev, Jaimie Arona Krems, Michael E. W. Varnum, Rebecca Neel, Mark Peysha, Watcharaporn Boonyasiriwat, Eduard Brandstätter, Ana Carla Crispim, Julio Eduardo Cruz, Daniel David, Oana A. David, Renata Pereira de Felipe, Velichko H. Fetvadjiev, Ronald Fischer, Silvia Galdi, Oscar Galindo, Galina Golovina, Luis Gomez-Jacinto, Sylvie Graf, Igor Grossmann, Pelin Gul, Takeshi Hamamura, Shihui Han, Hidefumi Hitokoto, Martina Hřebíčková, Jennifer Lee Johnson, Johannes A. Karl, Oksana Malanchuk, Asuka Murata, Jinkyung Na, Jiaqing O, Muhammed Rizwan, Eric Roth, Sergio Antonio Salgado Salgado, Elena Samoylenko, Tatyana Savchenko, A. Timur Sevincer, Adrian Stanciu, Eunkook M. Suh, Thomas Talhelm, Ayse K. Uskul, Irem Uz, Danilo Zambrano and Douglas T. Kenrick in Perspectives on Psychological Science
The article argues to replace null hypothesis significance testing by confidence intervals. Correctly interpreted, confidence intervals avoid the problems associated with null hypothesis statistical testing. Confidence intervals are... more
The article argues to replace null hypothesis significance testing by confidence intervals. Correctly interpreted, confidence intervals avoid the problems associated with null hypothesis statistical testing. Confidence intervals are formally valid, do not depend on a-priori hypotheses and do not result in trivial knowledge. The first part presents critique of null hypothesis significance testing; the second part replies to critique against confidence intervals and tries to demonstrate their superiority to null hypothesis significance testing.
E. Brandstatter, G. Gigerenzer, and R. Hertwig (2006) contended that their priority heuristic, a type of lexicographic semiorder model, is more accurate than cumulative prospect theory (CPT) or transfer of attention exchange (TAX) models... more
E. Brandstatter, G. Gigerenzer, and R. Hertwig (2006) contended that their priority heuristic, a type of lexicographic semiorder model, is more accurate than cumulative prospect theory (CPT) or transfer of attention exchange (TAX) models in describing risky decisions. However, there are 4 problems with their argument. First, their heuristic is not descriptive of certain data that they did not review. Second, their analysis relied on a global index of fit, percentage of correct predictions of the modal choice. Such analyses can lead to wrong conclusions when parameters are not properly estimated from the data. When parameters are estimated from the data, CPT and TAX fit the D. Kahneman and A. Tversky (1979) data perfectly. Reanalysis shows that TAX and CPT do as well as the priority heuristic for 2 of the data sets reviewed and outperform the priority heuristic for the other 3. Third, when 2 of these sets of data are reexamined, the priority heuristic is seen to make systematic viola...
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In four experiments we investigate overand underweighting of probabilities in decisions under risk. To account for this phenomenon we propose a view of the probab ility weighting function as a composite of cognitive and emotional... more
In four experiments we investigate overand underweighting of probabilities in decisions under risk. To account for this phenomenon we propose a view of the probab ility weighting function as a composite of cognitive and emotional processes and suggest that there is no single weighting function but two separate weighting functions for each process. Data obtained from a rating as well as three choice experiments, using both between and within subjects designs, generally support the proposed view. Given this broader perspective, cognitive "biases" or "errors" may turn out as highly intelligent solutions to maximize utility. * Dr. Eduard Brandstätter, Dept. of Social and Economic Psychology, University of Linz, A-4040 Linz, Austria. Phone: 0043-732-2468-578, Fax: 0043-732-2468-9315. E-mail: e.brandstaetter@jk.uni-linz.ac.at ** Dr.Anton Kühberger, Dept. of Psychology, University of Salzburg, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria. Phone: 0043-662-8044-5112, Fax: 0043-662-8044-5126....
Die Arbeit argumentiert, Signifikanztests durch Konfidenzintervalle zu ersetzen. Richtig interpretiert, vermeiden Konfidenzintervalle die Probleme klassischer Signifikanztests, sind logisch korrekt, benotigen weder a-priori Hypothesen... more
Die Arbeit argumentiert, Signifikanztests durch Konfidenzintervalle zu ersetzen. Richtig interpretiert, vermeiden Konfidenzintervalle die Probleme klassischer Signifikanztests, sind logisch korrekt, benotigen weder a-priori Hypothesen noch bringen sie triviale Aussagen hervor. Der erste Teil prasentiert Kritik zu klassischen Signifikanztests, der zweite Teil weist Kritik an der Verwendung von Konfidenzintervallen zuruck und zeigt deren Vorteile gegenuber Signifikanztests auf.
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Decision Making, Heuristics, and 14 moreCase Studies, Prediction, Risk Taking, Medicine, Humans, Models, Psychological, Case Study, Risky Choice, Cognitive processes, Expected Utility Theory, Psychological Theory, Psychological Models, and Choice Behavior
The article argues to replace null hypothesis significance testing by confidence intervals. Correctly interpreted, confidence intervals avoid the problems associated with null hypothesis statistical testing. Confidence intervals are... more
The article argues to replace null hypothesis significance testing by confidence intervals. Correctly interpreted, confidence intervals avoid the problems associated with null hypothesis statistical testing. Confidence intervals are formally valid, do not depend on apriori hypotheses and do not result in trivial knowledge. The first part presents critique of null hypothesis significance testing; the second part replies to critique against confidence intervals and tries to demonstrate their superiority to null hypothesis significance testing.
What motives do people prioritize in their social lives? Historically, social psychologists, especially those adopting an evolutionary perspective, have devoted a great deal of research attention to sexual attraction and romantic partner... more
What motives do people prioritize in their social lives? Historically, social psychologists, especially those adopting an evolutionary perspective, have devoted a great deal of research attention to sexual attraction and romantic partner choice (mate-seeking). Research on long-term familial bonds (mate retention and kin care) has been less thoroughly connected to relevant comparative and evolutionary work on other species, and in the case of kin care, less well researched. Examining varied sources of data from 27 societies around the world, we found that people generally view familial motives as primary in importance, and mate-seeking motives as relatively low in importance. College students, single people, and males place relatively higher emphasis on mate-seeking, but even those samples rated kin care motives as more important. Further, motives linked to long-term familial bonds are positively associated with psychological well-being, but mate-seeking motives are associated with a...
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Mit der Währungsumstellung in zwölf europäischen Staaten ist das Interesse von Sozialwissenschaftlerinnen an der Preiswahrnehmung gestiegen. Aus ökonomischer Perspektive war der 1. Januar 2002 - der Tag, an welchem der Euro als Bargeld... more
Mit der Währungsumstellung in zwölf europäischen Staaten ist das Interesse von Sozialwissenschaftlerinnen an der Preiswahrnehmung gestiegen. Aus ökonomischer Perspektive war der 1. Januar 2002 - der Tag, an welchem der Euro als Bargeld eingeführt wurde - ein irrelevantes Datum. Als Buchgeld galt der Euro bereits seit drei Jahren , die nationalen Währungen waren darauf bezogen, und die Wechselkurse fix an den Euro gebunden. Mit der Umstellung des Bargeldes wurde lediglich der Nominalwert, die Geldeinheiten auf dem Verbrauchermarkt geändert. Für den Handel sollte das unbedeutend sein, weil nicht die Geldeinheiten an sich, sondern der Realwert des Geldes relevant ist. Irvin Fisher (1928) machte auf die ökonomische Bedeutung des Nominalpreises aufmerksam, der vom Realpreis häufig unzureichend differenziert wird, was zum Phänomen der Geldillusion (money illusion) führt. Weil die Berechnung von Realpreisen komplex ist , und weil Konsumenten diesen kognitiven Aufwand im Alltag zumeist sche...
The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether age, sex, underlying renal disease, or the performing surgeon is of prognostic relevance to the patency of the vascular access. In a routine clinical setting, 139 first and 144 further... more
The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether age, sex, underlying renal disease, or the performing surgeon is of prognostic relevance to the patency of the vascular access. In a routine clinical setting, 139 first and 144 further fistula operations were done in 139 patients during 5 yr and were analyzed in retrospect. Within a group of 108 patients with first Cimino-Brescia fistulae, Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed the surgeon to be the only determinant with a continuous, significant effect on fistula patency throughout the observation period (P(out) < 0.1). The patency rates of the seven surgeons at 1, 2, and 3 yr differed from 34 to 69, 13 to 62, and 13 to 62%, respectively. Hazard ratios among the surgeons varied from 0.65 to 2.21. Additionally, age (P < 0.004) and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.02) were disclosed to be significant risk factors for impaired patency, but later in the course of disease (time dependent). Sex had no influence. After the fail...
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Previous research on the processes involved in risky decisions has rarely linked process data to choice directly. We used a simple measure based on the relative amount of attentional deployment to different components (gains/losses and... more
Previous research on the processes involved in risky decisions has rarely linked process data to choice directly. We used a simple measure based on the relative amount of attentional deployment to different components (gains/losses and their probabilities) of a risky gamble during the choice process, and we related this measure to the actual choice. In an experiment we recorded the decisions, decision times, and eye movements of 80 participants who made decisions on 11 choice problems. We used the number of eye fixations and fixation transitions to trace the deployment of attention during the choice process and obtained the following main results. First, different components of a gamble attracted different amounts of attention depending on participants&amp;amp;#39; actual choice. This was reflected in both the number of fixations and the fixation transitions. Second, the last-fixated gamble but not the last-fixated reason predicted participants&amp;amp;#39; choices. Third, a comparison of data obtained with eye tracking and data obtained with verbal protocols from a previous study showed a large degree of convergence regarding the process of risky choice. Together these findings tend to support dimensional decision strategies such as the priority heuristic.
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This study tested the distinction between knowledge-based choices and gambling decisions. Gambling decisions contain stated probabilities, and success depends on chance only. In knowledge-based decisions, in contrast, the probabilities... more
This study tested the distinction between knowledge-based choices and gambling decisions. Gambling decisions contain stated probabilities, and success depends on chance only. In knowledge-based decisions, in contrast, the probabilities are usually unknown and the outcomes of a choice depend on a person&amp;amp;#39;s ability or knowledge. Three different theoretical accounts were used to predict knowledge-based choices: prospect theory, the competence hypothesis, and probability-focused reasoning. Students (64 women, 93 men, M=22.4 yr.) chose between a knowledge bet and a sure gain of equal expected value. Analysis showed people prefer a knowledge bet over the sure gain, if the probability of winning is high-in contrast to prospect theory, which predicts the opposite. Both the competence hypothesis and probability focused reasoning can explain these differences, but prospect theory does not. It appears knowledge-based choices and gambling decisions capture different facets of decision-making.
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Pancreas transplantation with systemic venous drainage of the graft causes elevated plasma levels of insulin, known to be a potent regulator of plasma lipoprotein metabolism. We studied 11 post-type I diabetic pancreas-kidney transplant... more
Pancreas transplantation with systemic venous drainage of the graft causes elevated plasma levels of insulin, known to be a potent regulator of plasma lipoprotein metabolism. We studied 11 post-type I diabetic pancreas-kidney transplant recipients, 9 type I diabetic kidney transplant recipients displaying peripheral hyperinsulinemia due to subcutaneous insulin treatment, 11 nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients as controls for the effects of immunosuppressive medication, and 11 healthy control subjects, all matched for age, sex, and body mass index. We determined fasting lipids, lipoproteins and lipolytic enzymes, as well as postprandial lipid metabolism after a standardized oral fat load. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol averaged 1.98 (0.40) mmol/L in pancreas-kidney transplant patients, clearly higher than that of kidney transplant recipients (1.52 (0.36) mmol/L, P &lt; 0.05) or of controls (1.50 (0.38) mmol/L, P &lt; 0.05). In pancreas-kidney transplant patients postprandial lipemia was lowest and lipoprotein lipase activity was highest (average 32% and 154%, respectively, of the mean of the controls) compared with nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients (P &lt; 0.005, P &lt; 0.05) and healthy controls (P &lt; 0.001, P &lt; 0.01). In type I diabetic kidney transplant recipients the levels of HDL cholesterol (1.88 (0.63) mmol/L), postprandial lipemia, and lipoprotein lipase activity were intermediate between pancreas-kidney transplant patients and healthy controls. The distinctly elevated HDL cholesterol in pancreas-kidney transplant patients can be readily explained by the low postprandial triglyceride levels resulting from a high activity of lipoprotein lipase. The very favorable lipid profile in post-diabetic pancreas-kidney transplant recipients could be expected to counteract the severe atherosclerotic risk of long-standing diabetes.
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Summary: The article investigates specific affective reactions to social comparison outcomes within the framework of the contrast-empathy model ( Brandstätter, 1998 , 2000 ). One hundred and one participants received vignettes that... more
Summary: The article investigates specific affective reactions to social comparison outcomes within the framework of the contrast-empathy model ( Brandstätter, 1998 , 2000 ). One hundred and one participants received vignettes that described social income comparisons between a target person and a comparison other. In these vignettes comparison direction, relationship quality and relevance were varied. Participants (1) freely expressed the target person's likely emotions and (2) rated the hedonic intensities of various emotions mentioned. Results support the predictions derived from the contrast-empathy model, corroborate a stronger impact of pity compared to empathetic joy, and suggest practical implications relevant for economic psychology.
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This study tested the distinction between knowledge-based choices and gambling decisions. Gambling decisions contain stated probabilities, and success depends on chance only. In knowledge-based decisions, in contrast, the probabilities... more
This study tested the distinction between knowledge-based choices and gambling decisions. Gambling decisions contain stated probabilities, and success depends on chance only. In knowledge-based decisions, in contrast, the probabilities are usually unknown and the outcomes of a choice depend on a person's ability or knowledge. Three different theoretical accounts were used to predict knowledge-based choices: prospect theory, the competence hypothesis, and probability-focused reasoning. Students (64 women, 93 men, M = 22.4 yr.) chose between a knowledge bet and a sure gain of equal expected value. Analysis showed people prefer a knowledge bet over the sure gain, if the probability of winning is high—in contrast to prospect theory, which predicts the opposite. Both the competence hypothesis and probability focused reasoning can explain these differences, but prospect theory does not. It appears knowledge-based choices and gambling decisions capture different facets of decision-making.
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Much research within decision-making has used the standard gambling paradigm, where decision outcomes depend only on chance. Many real life decisions, however, imply personal control over decision outcomes. This paper addressed the... more
Much research within decision-making has used the standard gambling paradigm, where decision outcomes depend only on chance. Many real life decisions, however, imply personal control over decision outcomes. This paper addressed the question of how internal controllability influences decision-making. Internal controllability is assumed (i) to enhance unrealistic optimism and (ii) to result in a better cost:benefit ratio. Both tendencies support each other and predict an enhanced attractiveness for internal and controllable choice options. Participants read a scenario and made a decision afterwards. Results supported the prediction: decision-makers take the option they can personally control. This finding widens the narrow perspective inherent in much previous research based on the gambling paradigm.
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This research is an investigation of the hedonic intensities of elation and disappointment following the outcomes of risky gambles using two principles: disappointment aversion and the principle of limited emotion processing.... more
This research is an investigation of the hedonic intensities of elation and disappointment following the outcomes of risky gambles using two principles: disappointment aversion and the principle of limited emotion processing. Disappointment aversion implies a stronger impact of disappointment compared with elation; the principle of limited emotion processing predicts a smaller impact of elation if it occurs with a real gain, and a smaller impact of disappointment if it occurs with a real loss. Both principles support each other in the gain domain but operate against each other in the loss domain. It was predicted that disappointment would outweigh elation in the gain domain. For the loss domain, this question was left open to empirical scrutiny. Participants were provided with hypothetical gambles and were required to imagine having won, not won, lost, or not lost, money. Results supported the prediction for the gain domain; mixed results emerged for the loss domain. The model adds to the understanding of the cognitive and emotional processes following the outcomes of risky events.
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Decision Making, Depression, Happiness, and 7 moreAdolescent, Emotions, Affect, Humans, Female, Male, and Adult
This study with 181 subjects, 79 women and 102 men, randomly chosen from the local area of Upper Austria, is aimed at two major questions, (a) whether or not the validity of Stevens' power function can be replicated (Galanter, 1990)... more
This study with 181 subjects, 79 women and 102 men, randomly chosen from the local area of Upper Austria, is aimed at two major questions, (a) whether or not the validity of Stevens' power function can be replicated (Galanter, 1990) for money utility scaling, and (b) which of ...
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Research has shown a tendency of decision makers to overweight small probabilities and to underweight moderate and large probabilities. In standard treatments this is gra-phically modeled by an inverse S-shaped probability weighting... more
Research has shown a tendency of decision makers to overweight small probabilities and to underweight moderate and large probabilities. In standard treatments this is gra-phically modeled by an inverse S-shaped probability weighting function. We suggest that emotions play a ...
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ABSTRACT The paper (1) presents a new contrast–empathy model to capture affective reactions following a social comparison, and (2) supports the applicability of the value function to social comparisons. Relationship quality and relevance... more
ABSTRACT The paper (1) presents a new contrast–empathy model to capture affective reactions following a social comparison, and (2) supports the applicability of the value function to social comparisons. Relationship quality and relevance of the comparison dimension are assumed to influence the interplay between contrast and empathy effects. The application of the value function to the contrast–empathy model leads to the predictions that (a) dissatisfaction looms larger than satisfaction and that (b) pity looms larger than empathetic joy. Three studies test the validity of the contrast empathy model. In all studies participants rated their satisfaction with income comparisons. Study 1 demonstrates the applicability of the value function to social comparisons. Study 2 extends the self-evaluation model and supports the validity of the contrast–empathy model. Study 3 replicates parts of Study 2 in a between-subjects design. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.