Behavioral Social Neuroscience Seminar

Abstract: We present a descriptive model of choice with normative foundations based on how the brain is thought to represent value. An individual's behavior is fully described by two primitives: an individual's expectation and one free parameter we call 'predisposition.' The model captures the same apparent preference phenomena illustrated by Prospect Theory, but, unlike Prospect Theory, accounts for individual heterogeneity in risk taking and loss aversion, employs far fewer parameters than full prospect theory, and retains neurobiological plausibility as a causal model of the choice process. Additionally, our theory makes a series of novel predictions amenable to future testing and includes an alternative explanation for endowment effect.