Search

Large language models (LLMs) are demonstrating impressive performance on many reasoning and problem-solving tasks from cognitive psychology. When tested, their accuracy is often on par with average neurotypical adults, challenging long-standing critiques of associative models. Here we analyse recent findings at the intersection of LLMs and cognitive science. Here we discuss how modern LLMs resurrect associationist principles, with abilities like long-distance associations enabling complex reasoning. While limitations remain in areas like causal cognition and planning, phenomena like emergence suggest room for growth. Providing examples and increasing the dimensions of the network are methods that further improve LLM abilities, mirroring facilitation effects in human cognition. Analysis of LLMs errors provides insight into human cognitive biases. Overall, we argue LLMs represent a promising development for cognitive modelling, enabling new explorations of the mechanisms underlying intelligence and reasoning from an associationist point of view. Carefully evaluating LLMs with the tools of cognitive psychology will further understand the building blocks of the human mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanie Fennell's (1997) seminal cognitive approach to low self-esteem was published in Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. The current paper proposes a refined model, drawing on social theories, and research with people with socially devalued characteristics. This model emphasises how self-esteem relates to perceptions of one's value in the eyes of others. It is proposed that core beliefs typical of low self-esteem relate to one's value in relation to personal adequacy (e.g. having worth or status) and/or to social connection (e.g. being liked, loved, accepted or included). In each of these value domains, beliefs about both the self (e.g. 'I am a failure', 'I am unlovable') and others (e.g. 'Others look down on me', 'Others don't care about me') are considered important. The model suggests that everyone monitors their value but in people with low self-esteem, cognitive biases associated with underlying beliefs occur. In the context of trigger situations, this results in a greater likelihood of negative appraisals of perceived threat to one's value. Such appraisals activate underlying negative beliefs, resulting in negative mood (e.g. low mood, anxiety, shame, disgust) and other responses that maintain low self-esteem. Responses which can be used excessively or in unhelpful ways include (a) corrective behaviours; (b) compensatory strategies; (c) increased value monitoring; (d) safety-seeking behaviours; (e) rumination; (f) unhelpful mood regulation responses. These responses can adversely impact daily functioning or health, having the counterproductive effect of maintaining negative beliefs about one's value. Examples are provided for low self-esteem in lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Protection motivation theory (PMT) explains that the intention to cope with information security risks is based on informed threat and coping appraisals. However, people cannot always make appropriate assessments due to possible ignorance and cognitive biases. This study proposes a research model that introduces four antecedent factors from ignorance and bias perspectives into the PMT model and empirically tests this model with data from a survey of electronic waste (e-waste) handling. Design/methodology/approach: The data collected from 356 Chinese samples are analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings: The results revealed that for threat appraisal, optimistic bias leads to a lower perception of risks. However, factual ignorance (lack of knowledge of risks) does not significantly affect the perceived threat. For coping appraisal, practical ignorance (lack of knowledge of coping with risks) leads to low response efficacy and self-efficacy and high perceptions of coping cost, but the illusion of control overestimates response efficacy and self-efficacy. Originality/value: First, this study addresses a new type of information security problem in e-waste handling. Second, this study extends the PMT model by exploring the roles of ignorance and bias as antecedents. Finally, the authors reinvestigate the basic constructs of PMT to identify how rational threat and coping assessments affect user intentions to cope with data security risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Perspectives of neuroscience and its applications in organizations" presents the progress in the study of neuroscience and its application in different fields. It highlights that neuroscience generates valuable information about neural mechanisms and emotional responses, reward, memory, motivation, attention, and decision-making. Some of the fields in which neuroscience is applied are medicine, psychiatry and psychology, art and architecture, philosophy, sociology and politics, law and public safety, the military industry, economic sciences, education and pedagogy, and technology. Neuroscience also contributes to organizations in the management of human talent and the diagnosis and treatment of burnout syndrome. The article discusses the application of neuroscience in different areas of organizational management, such as leadership, business decision-making, well-being and happiness at work, persuasion and motivation, and team performance. It also mentions the use of neuroscience in neuromarketing, where the goal is to understand consumer processes and generate marketing strategies based on emotional responses and minimization of cognitive biases. Various areas of marketing development in which neuroscience is applied are mentioned, such as health and brand perception, the shopping experience, product design, communication, customer service, among others. In addition, a historical overview of advances in neuroscience and marketing from the 19th century to the present is presented. The article discusses the importance of branding and loyalty, as well as the use of non-verbal responses in neuromarketing. Advances in neuroimaging and the distinction between the associative system and the rational system of thought are also addressed. Ethical concerns related to the use of technology in neuromarketing are mentioned. Various measurement techniques in neuroscience, both invasive and non-invasive, are mentioned. The importance of neuroethics in the use of neuroscience in the business field is highlighted. Finally, future challenges and development possibilities in the field of neuromarketing are mentioned. The text invites users and developers to think about scientific and technological progress for the well-being of societies and proposes following ethical guidelines. The manifesto of Engineering for Life is shared, which recognizes the limitations of knowledge generation and promotes personal metacognition. Congratulations are given to the researchers who have contributed to knowledge in the DYNA Journal over the past 90 years. The document "A., Detection of deception: polygraph vs verbal and non-verbal analysis" is an article from the Journal of Criminology that discusses deception detection techniques. Specific information about the content of the article is not provided, so an accurate summary cannot be made. The article presents a compilation of different studies and perspectives on neuromarketing. Several articles and academic journals addressing topics such as consumer decision-making, ethics in artificial intelligence, and data fusion in neuromarketing are mentioned. Research on emerging trends in neuromarketing and the potential impact of neurotechnologies on society is also mentioned. The authors of the article are professors and researchers from the National University of Colombia, with experience in business administration and economic sciences. [Extracted from the article]

The most consistent finding in many forensic science domains is inconsistency (i.e., lack of reliability, reproducibility, repeatability, and replicability). The lack of consistency is a major problem, both from a scientific and a criminal justice point of view. Examining forensic conclusion data, from across many forensic domains, highlights the underlying cognitive issues and offers a better understanding of the issues and challenges. Such insights enable the development of ways to minimize these inconsistencies and move forward. The aim is to highlight the problem, so that it can be minimized and the reliability of forensic science evidence can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Burgeoning interest in the emotional experiences and cognitive abilities of dogs has led to novel methods to measure and improve canine welfare. Dog toys, in particular, are commonly thought to benefit dogs' mental and physical health. In this study, we examined the effect of introducing new toys to companion dogs. Our results showed a slight improvement in some positive welfare measures in dogs who received more complex toys when compared to dogs who received less complex toys and those who received no toys. However, this difference was not statistically significant and we found no differences in subjects' eating rate or activity levels. While research has found that toys may improve the welfare of kenneled dog populations (shelter- and laboratory-housed dogs), our findings did not find the same to hold with pet dog populations. We discuss the relevance of the study population and the welfare measures used in attempts to study "enrichment" in animals. Retail dog toys are often provided to companion animals to provide cognitive and physical stimu- lation and improve the animals' quality of life. These toys, sometimes known as "enrichment toys", have been shown to play a role in increasing appetite and activity levels and decreasing undesirable behaviors (e.g., barking, self-isolating behaviors) in some domestic dog (Canis familiaris) populations. In this study, we evaluate the effect of toys on appetite, activity levels, and positive affective states as measures of well- being in companion dogs. Behaviors were compared before and after regular interactions with different types of toys over twelve days. We found that provisioning companion dogs with toys did not significantly alter their activity level, rate of food consumption, or cognitive bias. While dogs who received more complex toys showed a slightly improved cognitive bias, there were no significant differences in behaviors be- tween the subjects who received "less complex" toys (e.g., a bone, ball) and "more complex" toys (e.g., puzzle toys). We conclude with reflections on the relevance of our subject population to the result seen, and on the different forms of the cognitive bias test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals with schizotypy can experience a number of cognitive biases that may increase their risk in developing schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology. However, cognitive biases are also present in mood and anxiety disorders, and it is currently unclear which biases are specific to schizotypy and which may be a result of comorbid depression and/or anxiety. Methods: 462 participants completed measures of depression, anxiety, cognitive biases, cognitive schemas, and schizotypy. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between these constructs. Three hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine if schizotypy, depression, and anxiety explained a statistically significant amount of variance in cognitive biases after controlling for depression and anxiety, schizotypy and anxiety, and schizotypy and depression, respectively. Moderated regression analyses were also conducted to investigate the moderating role of biological sex and ethnicity in the association between cognitive biases and schizotypy. Results: Self-referential processing, belief inflexibility, and attention for threat were associated with schizotypy. The belief inflexibility bias and social cognition problems were specifically associated with schizotypy after controlling for depression and anxiety and were not directly associated with either depression or anxiety. These associations were not moderated by biological sex or ethnicity. Conclusion: The belief inflexibility bias may be an important cognitive bias underlying schizotypal personality, and further research will be important to determine whether this bias is also associated with an increased likelihood of transitioning to psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: There is an urgent need to identify behaviours in animals that can provide insight into the aetiology and potential treatment of depression in humans. Objectives: This study aimed to validate a repeated measures cognitive affective bias (CAB) test in a rat model of chronic stress and compare CAB with forced swim test (FST) measures. Methods: Male and female Sprague Dawley rats were trained to associate large and small rewards with scent, spatial, and tactile cues, and their response to an ambiguous tactile stimulus tested. Rats underwent weekly CAB testing for 4 weeks with no intervention, or for 2 weeks of chronic restraint stress (CRS), followed by 2 weeks of fluoxetine, vehicle, or no treatment. CRS rats also underwent the FST at selected timepoints. Results: In control rats, CAB was positive and remained stable over the 4-week period. In CRS-fluoxetine and CRS-vehicle groups, CAB was initially positive, became negative during chronic restraint stress, and returned to positive by 2 weeks after treatment. However, in the CRS-no treatment group, CAB was variable at the outset and unstable over time. Behaviour in the FST was not affected by treatment, and there was no correlation between CAB and FST outcomes. Conclusions: Instability in the CRS-no treatment group precluded interpretation of the impact of fluoxetine on CAB post-CRS. Our results suggest that behaviour in the FST does not reflect or alter affective state and support the use of CAB tests as part of the behavioural testing repertoire for preclinical animal models of affective disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media (SM) refers to social networking sites (SNSs), which are defined as online services that enable individuals to build a public or semi-public profile and give them the opportunity to create a network of contacts and interact. SM affects all aspects of life and may offer new opportunities to explore new experiences and perspectives of life because of its feasibility. But several times, because of feasibility, misinformation is generated intentionally or unintentionally, which spreads rapidly, and such misinformation can affect all aspects of life. However, health-related misinformation can be life-threatening to individuals. Endocrinology is the branch of medicine that deals with endocrine glands and hormones, which regulates mood, growth, development, metabolism and the way our organ works to maintain internal homeostasis. SM usage and endocrine health impact each other in both positive and negative ways. So, in this review, we will discuss about the effect of SM on Endocrine health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within a Hospital Medicine division at a large academic institution, an innovative program has been developed to offer third year medical learners enrolled in their Internal Medicine Clerkship the opportunity to deepen their diagnostic reasoning skills with a weekly case-based learning activity entitled "Hospital Medicine's Mystery Case of the Week". The mystery case curriculum has four primary learning objectives (1): To understand the value of employing a multisystem approach to a common presenting problem (2); To apply a diagnostic schema to a clinical problem (3); To apply knowledge of cost appropriate workups to a clinical case and (4) To identify cognitive biases that can influence decision making in the context of treating a clinical problem. A process evaluation of the mystery case curriculum was conducted over a 6-month implementation period. The process evaluation was guided by eight domains of focus: program acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation, integration, expansion and limited-efficacy testing. Measures included a pre/post mixed-methods survey, attendance log and timesheet. Pre/post survey data was analyzed via paired samples t-tests and open-ended responses were analyzed via a deductive content analysis. Process evaluation findings demonstrated the program had high levels of acceptability and demand. Survey findings suggest the curriculum may increase feelings of preparedness for Internal Medicine exams as well as student interest, comfort and confidence related to diagnostic processes. Future evaluations should work to understand the influence this curriculum has on diagnostic accuracy within a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual diversification of personalized usage scenarios, user requirements play a direct role in product design decisions. Due to the problem of fuzzy demand caused by user cognitive bias, traditional design methods usually focus on realizing product functions and cannot effectively match user requirements. Therefore, this paper proposes a complex product module division method for user requirements. The method constitutes of three tasks, requirement analysis of module division, design mapping of module division and scheme implementation of module division. Firstly, based on the progressive architecture from initial requirements to precise requirements, the effective user requirements are obtained through similarity recommendation. Secondly, according to the four types of knowledge of function, geometry, physics and design, the design structure matrix is constructed to complete the Requirement-Function-Structure mapping. The improved Fuzzy C-means Algorithm is used to solve the mapping model, and finally a module division scheme that meets the user requirements is obtained. Taking the chip removal machine as an example, the rationality and effectiveness of the method are verified. The results show that the product modules divided by this method can effectively meet the multiple user requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral economics studies how external influences subconsciously affect decision making. Everyone is subject to a range of cognitive biases, which can affect the radiology training environment and can impact resident selection, resident education, feedback, workflow, and report composition. Understanding the cognitive sources of error and patterns of deviation can help faculty and trainees better engage in an optimal learning environment. This review focuses on the role of cognitive biases as they impact multiple facets of radiology education and training environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rechtswissenschaft (Baden-Baden) is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article presents a research synthesis of 162 studies focusing on information use for decision‐making in public administration, management, and policy. The findings reveal that a significant proportion of work is centered around performance management and policy implementation. Notably, around one third of the reviewed studies adopt a behavioral science perspective. The analysis predominantly includes civil servants and citizens as the subjects, with quantitative studies outnumbering qualitative investigations by more than twofold. We identify three distinct components in understanding information use: the objective features of information architecture; the subjective mechanisms involving cognitive biases (i.e., over‐/under‐reaction to irrelevant information features) and decision noise (i.e., heterogeneity); and the moderating role of information user typology. Context should also be taken into account. The article explores how these findings relate to current societal challenges and emphasizes the potential of mixed‐methods, multisample, and/or multisite research in advancing knowledge in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a reflection by the Editor-in-Chief of Public Administration Review (PAR) on their six-year tenure. The editor expresses gratitude to their team and emphasizes the importance of PAR as a reputable journal in the field of public administration. They discuss major topics covered during their tenure, including collaboration, behavioral public administration, globalism, and evidence-based decision-making. The editor highlights the need for research to address current challenges such as the global pandemic, social justice issues, and technological advancements. They also mention emerging themes in post-pandemic public administration, such as equity, sustainability, administrative burden, and crisis management, and highlight calls for symposium papers to explore these themes further. The concluding issue of PAR covers various important themes and topics in public administration, including governance, implementation, public and private enterprises, experimental methods, cognitive bias research, comparative work, and globalism. The issue also includes research symposia on theory rejuvenation and longitudinal data, as well as stand-alone research articles and viewpoints on topics such as genomic public administration, tradeoffs among effectiveness, equity, and efficiency, ambidextrous leadership, artificial intelligence, climate change, and digital governance. The author concludes their tenure with a message of gratitude and encouragement for the advancement of the discipline. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of IDP: Revista de Internet, Derecho y Politica is the property of Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Confrontation with radical online content has been empirically linked to the facilitation of radicalization processes. Therefore, building a presence of information about potential prevention of radicalization through an online campaign may be particularly relevant to limit the activities and appeals of radical actors. In this study, we thus examine the effectiveness of campaign material focused on cognitive biases (i.e., when people's cognitive processes of information are systematically distorted). We test the success of the campaign material with respect to three campaign objectives: Building (1) knowledge about biases, (2) confidence to recognize biases, and (3) awareness and relevance of the issue. We conducted an online-experiment with adolescents (N = 223) comparing a control group (no exposure to the campaign material) to (A) a group that watched the developed campaign videos and (B) a group that watched the videos and took a self-assessment quiz. This comparison aims at testing how different levels of interactivity affect the three campaign objectives. The results suggest that the campaign materials increased knowledge about cognitive biases, but did not affect adolescents' confidence in recognizing biases and the perceived relevance of learning about biases. Exposure to radical content online has been linked to facilitating radicalization processes. Therefore, building skills based on one's susceptibility to radicalization (i.e., cognitive biases) may be a potential prevention measure that can promote media literacy and limit the appeal of radical actors. This study shows that campaign materials can increase knowledge of cognitive biases and thus raise awareness of vulnerability to radical content. Nevertheless, an online campaign should ideally be accompanied by a broader and longer-term educational program to ensure long-term awareness. Since cognitive biases are a processing pattern that affects everyone, information about how one's self and others are affected by it could lead to a normalization of reflection about biased processing. This could have a positive impact on more critical media literacy and should thus be pursued in future campaigns, educational offerings, and scientific studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Broiler meat is the most commonly used meat product worldwide. Although China is regarded as one of the three largest broiler producers, the per capita chicken consumption remains low. Consumers' cognitive bias and the information acquisition channels are believed to be the main factors contributing to this. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned issue. Design/methodology/approach: To explore the phenomenon empirically, the current study uses the survey data of 1,056 consumers from China and analyses them using ordered logistic regression. Findings: The results revealed that consumers' cognitive bias significantly affects their behaviour toward broiler products, and the order of influence is cognitive bias regarding industry cognitive > product nutrition and taste > food safety. The study further revealed that the more diverse the information acquisition channels, the more likely they are to promote consumer behaviour toward broiler chickens. The order of influence of the channels was self-organising > new media > traditional media. Practical implications: Overall, the findings suggest that the government and enterprises should strengthen and upgrade information channels to boost both the broiler industry and consumer consumption behaviour regarding poultry products. Originality/value: Rather than the usual focus on the impact of consumer cognition on consumer behaviour, this study examines the impact of cognitive bias on consumer behaviour. Further, centring on broiler products with high protein, low fat and feed-to-meat ratios, this study explores the reasons the per capita consumption of broiler products in China is far lower than the national average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epistemic injustice is a matter of not doing justice to the knowledge claims of a person, and it is pervasive in our everyday interactions. It can be traced to the susceptibility of the human mind to cognitive biases and distortions. The paper discusses some ways proposed to mitigate epistemic injustice and suggests that this endeavor requires efforts in more dimensions. The paper tries to demonstrate that the existing efforts to combat epistemic injustice need to be complemented by looking into the very manner in which the self is automatically conceptualized. A shift from the remembering or narrative mode of understanding oneself to the experiential or episodic one will help contain misleading biases and reduce epistemic injustice. Practices such as mindfulness can help enormously in this task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the digital information era, consumers' information capability plays a crucial role in shaping their green consumption intention. To delve deeper into the dynamics of how information capability influences consumers' green consumption intention, this study constructs a theoretical model grounded in information asymmetry theory and cognitive bias theory. Additionally, the mediating role of green trust and the moderating role of media publicity are incorporated to comprehensively investigate the influence mechanism of information capability on consumers' green consumption intention. Empirical analysis is conducted based on data collected through a questionnaire survey. The findings of this study reveal that information capability exerts a partially mediating effect on consumers' green consumption intention. Specifically, information capability directly influences consumers' green consumption intention, and it also indirectly impacts their green consumption intention through its influence on green trust. Furthermore, media publicity positively moderates the relationship between information capability and consumers' green consumption intention. This research contributes to the existing literature by enhancing our understanding of the influence pathway leading to green consumption intention. Its insights offer valuable implications for promoting green consumption and advancing sustainable development initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of our study was to scrutinize the learning experiences of Korean neurology residents, with an emphasis on the implications of the novel competency-based curriculum implemented in 2021. We hypothesized that this revised curriculum could modulate residents' cognitive conduct, primarily the manifestation of overconfidence, in distinctive ways across different stages of training. Our investigative framework was three-fold. Initially, we began with a qualitative inquiry involving in-depth interviews with a purposively selected cohort of eight residents from four training sites. This approach facilitated comprehensive insight into their perceptions of their competence and confidence across the continuum of a four-year residency program. Subsequently, we incorporated the K-NEPA13 assessment instrument, administered to the residents and their overseeing supervisors. This stage aimed to dissect potential cognitive biases, particularly overconfidence and consistency, within the resident population. The final study involved a comprehensive survey administered to a group of 97 Korean neurology residents, allowing us to consolidate and validate our preceding findings. Our findings revealed that junior residents portrayed heightened confidence in their clinical capabilities compared to their senior peers. Intriguingly, junior residents also displayed a stronger inclination towards reevaluating their clinical judgments, a behavior we hypothesize is stimulated by the recently introduced competency-based curriculum. We identified cognitive divergence between junior and senior residents, with the latter group favoring more consistent and linear cause-and-effect reasoning, while the former demonstrated receptiveness to introspection and reconsideration. We speculate this adaptability might be engendered by the supervisor assignment protocol intrinsic to the new curriculum. Our study highlights the essentiality of incorporating cognitive behaviors when devising medical education strategies. Acknowledging and addressing these diverse cognitive biases, and instilling a spirit of adaptability, can nurture a culture that persists in continuous learning and self-reflection among trainee doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to major cognitive accounts of panic disorder, bodily sensations can lead to automatic activation of an associative fear network, potentially triggering a cascade of cognitive, emotional, and physiological responses culminating in a panic attack. However, the evidence for the automatic associations assumed by these models is mixed. This may reflect the heterogeneous nature of panic disorder, in that the relative importance of different bodily sensations and symptoms varies between individuals. The current study aimed to test this possibility via measuring the associations between three different sets of panic symptoms (cognitive, respiratory, cardiac) and scores on three symptom-specific single target implicit association tests (STIATs). Methods: A total of 226 unselected female participants aged 18–35 completed the STIATs as well as questionnaires assessing panic symptoms and related measures in a web-based study. Results: Only limited evidence was found to support the idea of specific associations between STIAT stimuli sets and their related panic symptoms. Exploratory analyses indicated that there were only associations between STIAT scores and panic-relevant questionnaires amongst those participants who had experienced a panic attack in the previous 6 months. Conclusions: The results have implications for measuring panic-relevant associations and understanding their role in panic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Math anxiety in adolescence negatively affects learning math and careers. The current study investigated whether three cognitive biases, i.e. math-failure associations, attentional biases (engagement and disengagement), and avoidance bias for math, were related to math anxiety and math behaviour (math grade and math avoidance behaviour). Methods: In total, 500 secondary school students performed three cognitive bias tasks, questionnaires and a math performance task, and reported their grades. Results: Math-failure associations showed the most consistent associations with the outcome measures. They were associated with higher math anxiety above and beyond sex and education level. Those math-failure associations were also associated with lower grades and more avoidance behaviour, however, not above and beyond math anxiety. Engagement bias and avoidance tendency bias were associated with math avoidance behaviour, though the avoidance bias finding should be interpreted with care given the low reliability of the measure. Disengagement biases were not associated with any math anxiety nor behaviour outcome measure. Conclusions: Whereas a more reliable instrument for avoidance bias is necessary for conclusions on the relations with math performance and behaviour, the current results do suggest that math-failure associations, and not attentional bias, may play a role in the maintenance of math anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many patients hospitalized after severe acute brain injury are comatose and require life-sustaining therapies. Some of these patients make favorable recoveries with continued intensive care, while others do not. In addition to providing medical care, clinicians must guide surrogate decision makers through high-stakes, emotionally charged decisions about whether to continue life-sustaining therapies. These consultations require clinicians first to assess a patient's likelihood of recovery given continued life-sustaining therapies (i.e., prognosticate), then to communicate that prediction to surrogates, and, finally, to elicit and interpret the patient's preferences. At each step, both clinicians and surrogates are vulnerable to flawed decision making. Clinicians can be imprecise, biased, and overconfident when prognosticating after brain injury. Surrogates can misperceive the choice and misunderstand or misrepresent a patient's wishes, which may never have been communicated clearly. These biases can undermine the ability to reach choices congruent with patients' preferences through shared decision making (SDM). Decision science has extensively studied these biases. In this article, we apply that research to improving SDM for patients who are comatose after acute brain injury. After introducing SDM and the medical context, we describe principal decision science results as they relate to neurologic prognostication and end-of-life decisions, by both clinicians and surrogates. Based on research regarding general processes that can produce imprecise, biased, and overconfident prognoses, we propose interventions that could improve SDM, supporting clinicians and surrogates in making these challenging decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study evaluated the function of four cognitive, symptom validity scales on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), the Cognitive Bias Scale (CBS) and the Cognitive Bias Scale of Scales (CB-SOS) 1, 2, and 3 in a sample of Veterans who volunteered for a study of neurocognitive functioning. Method: 371 Veterans (88.1% male, 66.1% White) completed a battery including the Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST), the Word Memory Test (WMT), and the PAI. Independent samples t-tests compared mean differences on cognitive bias scales between valid and invalid groups on the M-FAST and WMT. Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and hit rate across various scale point-estimates were used to evaluate classification accuracy of the CBS and CB-SOS scales. Results: Group differences were significant with moderate effect sizes for all cognitive bias scales between the WMT-classified groups (d =.52–.55), and large effect sizes between the M-FAST-classified groups (d = 1.27–1.45). AUC effect sizes were moderate across the WMT-classified groups (.650–.676) and large across M-FAST-classified groups (.816–.854). When specificity was set to.90, sensitivity was higher for M-FAST and the CBS performed the best (sensitivity =.42). Conclusion: The CBS and CB-SOS scales seem to better detect symptom invalidity than performance invalidity in Veterans using cutoff scores similar to those found in prior studies with non-Veterans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that a psychological bias called "focalism" contributes to an overestimation of the differences between political candidates, which in turn increases participation and polarization. Focalism causes people to confuse the allocation of attention to things with the importance of those things. Because attention to politics typically centers on conflict, the result is an exaggeration of differences across the partisan divide. I test this intuition using an experimental design that provides all respondents with all the information they need to estimate how much Joe Biden and Donald Trump objectively disagreed on policy positions just before the 2020 election. I find that shifting attention—toward either those positions the candidates agreed or disagreed with each other on—influences beliefs about the differences between candidates. The effect exceeds that of identifying as a Democrat or as a Republican. Beyond those perceptions, focalism increases turnout intentions, perceptions of election importance, negative feelings towards the out‐candidate, and affective polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis-related pain has been predominantly medically managed, which has hindered understanding of psychological factors involved in these pain experiences. Models of chronic pain highlight the biased interpretation of ambiguous information as health threat related (interpretation bias) as an important process in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Whether interpretation bias may also be similarly implicated in endometriosis-related pain is unclear. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by (1) comparing interpretation biases between a sample of participants with endometriosis and a control sample of participants without medical conditions and pain, (2) exploring relationships between interpretation bias and endometriosis-related pain outcomes, and (3) exploring whether interpretation bias moderated the relationship between endometriosis-related pain severity and pain interference. The endometriosis and healthy control samples comprised 873 and 197 participants, respectively. Participants completed online surveys assessing demographics, interpretation bias, and pain-related outcomes. Analyses revealed that interpretation bias was significantly stronger among individuals with endometriosis relative to controls, with a large effect size. Within the endometriosis sample, interpretation bias was significantly associated with increases in pain-related interference, however, interpretation bias was not associated with any other pain outcomes and did not moderate the relationship between pain severity and pain interference. This study is the first to evidence biased interpretation styles among individuals with endometriosis and to show this bias is associated with pain interference. Whether interpretation bias varies overtime and whether this bias can be modified through scalable and accessible interventions to alleviate pain-related interference are avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults account for a disproportionate share of the morbidity and mortality after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Predicting functional and cognitive outcomes for individual older adults after TBI is challenging in the acute phase of injury. Given that neurologic recovery is possible and uncertain, life-sustaining therapy may be pursued initially, even if for some, there is a risk of survival to an undesired level of disability or dependence. Experts recommend early conversations about goals of care after TBI, but evidence-based guidelines for these discussions or for the optimal method for communicating prognosis are limited. The time-limited trial (TLT) model may be an effective strategy for managing prognostic uncertainty after TBI. TLTs can provide a framework for early management: specific treatments or procedures are used for a defined period of time while monitoring for an agreed-upon outcome. Outcome measures, including signs of worsening and improvement, are defined at the outset of the trial. In this Viewpoint article, we discuss the use of TLTs for older adults with TBI, their potential benefits, and current challenges to their application. Three main barriers limit the implementation of TLTs in these scenarios: inadequate models for prognostication; cognitive biases faced by clinicians and surrogate decision-makers, which may contribute to prognostic discordance; and ambiguity regarding appropriate endpoints for the TLT. Further study is needed to understand clinician behaviors and surrogate preferences for prognostic communication and how to optimally integrate TLTs into the care of older adults with TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deployed combat personnel are at increased risk of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People with PTSD often judge ambiguous information as negative or threatening (interpretation bias). However, this may be adaptive during deployment. The current study aimed to investigate the extent to which interpretation bias in combat personnel is associated with PTSD symptoms, rather than with appropriate situational awareness. Combat veterans with and without PTSD and civilians without PTSD generated explanations for ambiguous situations and judged the likelihood of various possible explanations. They also made judgements about future consequences of worst‐case scenarios, and their coping ability. Veterans with PTSD generated more negative explanations for ambiguous situations, judged negative interpretations as more likely and felt less able to cope with the worst‐case scenario than veteran and civilian controls. Veterans with versus without PTSD judged worst‐case scenarios to have more severe and insurmountable consequences, although they did not differ significantly from civilians. Veteran versus civilian controls rated their coping ability as higher; this was the only difference between control groups. In summary, group differences in interpretation bias were associated with PTSD symptoms rather than combat role. Veterans without PTSD may be particularly resilient when coping with everyday adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do statistical regression results compare to intuitive, visually fitted results? Fitting lines by eye through a set of points has been explored since the 20th century. Common methods of fitting trends by eye involve maneuvering a string, black thread, or ruler until the fit is suitable, then drawing the line through the set of points. In 2015, the New York Times introduced an interactive feature, called "You Draw It," where readers were asked to input their own assumptions about various metrics and compare how these assumptions relate to reality. In this article, we validate "You Draw It" as a method for graphical testing, comparing results to the less technological method used in Mosteller et al. and extending that study with formal statistical analysis methods. Results were consistent with those found in the previous study; when shown points following a linear trend, participants tended to fit the slope of the principal axis over the slope of the least-squares regression line. This trend was most prominent when shown data simulated with larger variances. This study reinforces the differences between intuitive visual model fitting and statistical model fitting, providing information about human perception as it relates to the use of statistical graphics. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem-solving frameworks have the potential to promote objective data-based decisions that increase the likelihood students are matched to appropriate evidence-based interventions. Unfortunately, cognitive biases, heuristics, and fallacies can lead to erroneous conclusions within problem-solving frameworks. Some of these effects have been well-studied within special education and related fields, while the effects of lesser-known biases that have not garnered the same level of attention have been extensively investigated in fields like finance and medicine. Previous educational decision-making research has focused largely on special education evaluation processes. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we highlight lesser-known cognitive biases that may impact educational decision making. Second, we discuss how said biases can be researched within problem-solving frameworks and challenged in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that narcissistic grandiosity and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) may share the common psychological mechanisms, including impairments of metacognition, social cognition, cognitive biases, emotion regulation through fantasizing and dissociation. However, it remains unknown as to whether these mechanisms are associated with the occurrence of PLEs in people with narcissistic grandiosity. Therefore, in the present study, we approached a network analysis in order to investigate pathways from narcissistic grandiosity to PLEs taking into consideration the mediating effect of common psychological mechanisms. The study was based on a non-clinical sample of 1647 individuals, aged 18–35 years. Data were collected through self-reports administered in the online survey. There were no direct connections between narcissistic grandiosity and PLEs. However, four pathways connecting narcissistic grandiosity and PLEs through the effect of one mediating psychological mechanism were identified. These mechanisms covered external attribution biases, the need to control thoughts, social cognition, and emotion regulation through fantasizing. Among them, the shortest pathway led through the effects of external attribution biases. Age, gender, education and lifetime history of psychiatric treatment were included as covariates in a network analysis. Findings from this study indicate that higher levels of external attributions, the need to control thoughts, impairments of social cognition, and emotion regulation strategies based on fantasizing might be associated with the development of PLEs in people showing narcissistic grandiosity. These observations indicate potential targets for therapeutic approaches that aim to reduce the risk of developing comorbid psychopathology in people with grandiose narcissism traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging waste makes up more than 10% of the landfilled waste in the United States. While consumers often want to make environmentally friendly product choices, we find that their perceptions of the environmental friendliness of product packaging may systematically deviate from its objective environmental friendliness. Eight studies (N = 4,103) document the perceived environmental friendliness (PEF) bias whereby consumers judge plastic packaging with additional paper to be more environmentally friendly than identical plastic packaging without the paper. The PEF bias is driven by consumers' "paper = good, plastic = bad" beliefs and by proportional reasoning, wherein packaging with a greater paper-to-plastic proportion is judged as more environmentally friendly. We further show that the PEF bias impacts consumers' willingness to pay and product choice. Importantly, this bias can be mitigated by a "minimal packaging sticker" intervention, which increases the environmental friendliness perceptions of plastic-only packaging, rendering plastic-packaged products to be preferable to their plastic-plus-paper-packaged counterparts. This research contributes to the packaging literature in marketing and to research on sustainability while offering practical implications for managers and public policy officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kripke-Putnam argument for natural kind essentialism can be said to depend on placeholder essentialist intuitions. But some argue that such philosophical intuitions are merely preschooler cognitive biases which are not supported by scientific knowledge of natural kinds. Chemical substances, for instance, whether elements or compounds do not have such privileged set of underlying properties ('same substance' relation) which are present in all members of the kind and which provide necessary and sufficient condition for kind membership. In this paper, I argue that placeholder essentialism works for at least some of the scientific natural kinds especially for the basic chemical natural kind, i.e., element. I argue that the dual sense of the element (the basic substance and the simple substance) along with microstructuralism helps explain the essence of an element not only at the abstract level but also at the more concrete level. Based on this essentialist account of element, I conclude that placeholder essentialism is not completely without merit, and it fits nicely with at least some of our scientific natural kinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An integral part of clinical practice is decision‐making. Yet there is widespread acceptance that there is evidence of cognitive bias within clinical practice among nurses and physicians. However, how cognitive bias among emergency nurses and physicians' decision‐making influences patient outcomes remains unclear. Aim: The aim of this review was to systematically synthesise research exploring the emergency nurses' and physicians' cognitive bias in decision‐making and its influence on patient outcomes. Methods: This scoping review was guided by the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. The databases searched included CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science and PubMed. No date limits were applied. The Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendation (PAGER) framework was used to guide the discussion. Results: The review included 18 articles, consisting of 10 primary studies (nine quantitative and one qualitative) and eight literature reviews. Of the 18 articles, nine investigated physicians, five articles examined nurses, and four both physicians and nurses with sample sizes ranging from 13 to 3547. Six primary studies were cross‐sectional and five used hypothetical scenarios, and one real‐world assessment. Three were experimental studies. Twenty‐nine cognitive biases were identified with Implicit bias (n = 12) most frequently explored, followed by outcome bias (n = 4). Results were inconclusive regarding the influence of biases on treatment decisions and patient outcomes. Four key themes were identified; (i) cognitive biases among emergency clinicians; (ii) measurement of cognitive bias; (iii) influence of cognitive bias on clinical decision‐making; and (iv) association between emergency clinicians' cognitive bias and patient outcomes. Conclusions: This review identified that cognitive biases were present among emergency nurses and physicians during clinical decision‐making, but it remains unclear how cognitive bias influences patient outcomes. Further research examining emergency clinicians' cognitive bias is required. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Awareness of emergency clinicians' own cognitive biases may result to the provision of equity in care. No Patient or Public Contribution in this review: We intend to disseminate the results through publication in a peer‐reviewed journals and conference presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary models of psychosis imply that cognitive biases such as the jumping to conclusions (JTC), the bias against disconfirmatory evidence (BADE), and the liberal acceptance (LA) bias play a role in the pathogenesis of delusions. Most of the studies investigating the role of cognitive biases, however, have been conducted with socially neutral or abstract stimuli and have assessed patients with established psychoses. For the present study, we aimed to concurrently investigate multiple biases (i.e., the JTC, BADE, and LA biases) in a community sample with a new paradigm using more socially engaging stimuli. A large sample of participants (N = 874) recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk was subdivided into two groups based on the frequency of their psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) according to the positive subscale score of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) and matched based on major demographics variables, resulting in two equally sized groups called High-PLE (at least 2 SD above the mean) and Low-PLE (maximum 0.5 above the mean; n = 46 for each group). Using a modified version of the written-scenarios BADE task, which emphasized social interactions between agents embedded in the scenario, participants rated the plausibility of response options in the face of new information. In line with previous findings, the High-PLE group demonstrated the JTC, BADE, and LA biases. That is, the members of this group made more decisions after the initial piece of information, were less likely to revise their beliefs in light of new information, and provided higher plausibility ratings for implausible response options compared to the Low-PLE group. Results corroborate prior findings suggesting that the JTC, BADE, and LA biases may be contributing factors in delusional ideation and that metacognitive biases extend to social situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature and evolution of positive emotion is a major question remaining unanswered in science and philosophy. The study of feelings and emotions in humans and animals is dominated by discussion of affective states that have negative valence. Given the clinical and social significance of negative affect, such as depression, it is unsurprising that these emotions have received more attention from scientists. Compared to negative emotions, such as fear that leads to fleeing or avoidance, positive emotions are less likely to result in specific, identifiable, behaviours being expressed by an animal. This makes it particularly challenging to quantify and study positive affect. However, bursts of intense positive emotion (joy) are more likely to be accompanied by externally visible markers, like vocalisations or movement patterns, which make it more amenable to scientific study and more resilient to concerns about anthropomorphism. We define joy as intense, brief, and event‐driven (i.e. a response to something), which permits investigation into how animals react to a variety of situations that would provoke joy in humans. This means that behavioural correlates of joy are measurable, either through newly discovered 'laughter' vocalisations, increases in play behaviour, or reactions to cognitive bias tests that can be used across species. There are a range of potential situations that cause joy in humans that have not been studied in other animals, such as whether animals feel joy on sunny days, when they accomplish a difficult feat, or when they are reunited with a familiar companion after a prolonged absence. Observations of species‐specific calls and play behaviour can be combined with biometric markers and reactions to ambiguous stimuli in order to enable comparisons of affect between phylogenetically distant taxonomic groups. Identifying positive affect is also important for animal welfare because knowledge of positive emotional states would allow us to monitor animal well‐being better. Additionally, measuring if phylogenetically and ecologically distant animals play more, laugh more, or act more optimistically after certain kinds of experiences will also provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the evolution of joy and other positive emotions, and potentially even into the evolution of consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walt Whitman's 'Crossing Brooklyn Ferry' (CBF) (1856) conveys and constructs an exhilarated passenger's experience with public transportation facilities of mid-nineteenth century New York against the background of modernization, urbanization, industrialization and globalization. With Whitman's America exploiting the continent's diverse resources along imperialist lines, CBF exposes the poet's implication in the early stages of the climate crisis. This article draws on scientific insights into human cognition to furnish a productive interpretative lens for analysing poetry and its role in human relationships with the more-than-human world. Exploring culturally adapted cognitive features relevant to the perception of time and scale in the context of ongoing planetary disruption, it argues that Whitman's attitude towards the future anticipates major issues in present-day environmental (in)action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victimization could cause cognitive dysfunction like negative cognitive bias. While there are studies of contemporaneous consequences, there is insufficient research on whether and how early victimization will affect adult negative cognitive bias. This study examined the dual role of resilience (i.e., whether resilience would moderate the relationship between early victimization and negative cognitive bias, and/or whether resilience would mediate the same relationship). A total of 972 college students (40% were males, Mage = 19.25, SD = 1.17, range = 16-25) from three universities in Central China completed a series of anonymous questionnaires on early victimization, resilience, and negative cognitive bias. After controlling for demographic variables, the results indicated that early victimization was positively correlated with negative cognitive bias of college students. Moderation analysis indicated that resilience moderated the relationship between early victimization and negative cognitive bias. Mediation analysis revealed that resilience partially mediated the same relationship. Specifically, the effect of early victimization on negative cognitive bias was stronger for college students with high level of resilience than those with low level of resilience. Meanwhile, early victimization affected negative cognitive bias partially through resilience. The findings elucidate the dual role of resilience in the relationship between early victimization and negative cognitive bias. On the one hand, negative cognitive bias can be reduced by enhancing resilience among victims, on the other hand, the protective role of resilience may be weakened with the increase of victimization, reminding us to pay more attention to victims with high level of resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS) is widely used to assess cognitive biases in patients who have schizophrenia. However, the lack of a modified Chinese‐language version of the DACOBS (MCL‐DACOBS) precludes Chinese schizophrenic patients from treatment aimed at normalizing cognitive biases, impacting their prognosis. Here, we aimed to produce a DACOBS for China and test the validity and reliability of the resultant MCL‐DACOBS. Methods: Eighteen researchers collaborated to develop the MCL‐DACOBS: A total of 15 researchers modified and translated the English version of the DACOBS, 1 native‐English‐speaking researcher back‐translated the scale, and 2 Chinese sinologists localized and optimized the language of the MCL‐DACOBS. Forty‐two volunteers checked the scale items' comprehensibility, and the two sinologists performed further localization and optimization based on their feedback. The final version of the MCL‐DACOBS used in this study was thus derived from the harmonized English‐language version of the scale. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were used to examine the best latent structure of the MCL‐DACOBS. Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to check the reliability. The discriminative ability of the MCL‐DACOBS was assessed according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The CFA showed that all items loaded onto factors with loadings >0.400. A two‐factor structure showed a good model fit (root mean square error of approximation =.018, Tucker–Lewis index =.978, comparative fit index =.984). Promax rotation demonstrated that each item had a high factor load (0.432–0.774). Cronbach's α coefficient and ICC for the MCL‐DOCABS were.965 and.957, respectively, indicating that the scale has ideal reliability. Conclusion: The MCL‐DACOBS has good validity and good reliability, and its psychometric properties indicate that it is a valid tool for measuring cognitive biases in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After combining the CPT1, SARF2, and greed and grievances dynamical systems, and the overreactions models, we conducted a questionnaire survey with a sample of 921 investors from North Kivu in the DRC, of which 879 (95%) were in the service sector. The evaluation of the risk taken by investors is carried out at two levels. At the first level, it is assessed according to an informational asymmetry focused on estimating probabilities describing the outlook for results over three years (from 2014 to 2016). At the second level, the analysis describes the investors' attitude regarding their level of profit expectation as an endogenous variable of heuristic optimization, cognitive bias, and self-expressive bias. The results show that the anomalies described in the interactive behavior of N-K investors during wartime uncertainty stem from a plurality of attitudes reflecting an ambiguity of choices dominated by a sub-reaction at the base of reluctance and a loss of opportunity in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dropout rate is the most significant disadvantage in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC); most of the time, it exceeds 90%. This research compares the effect of cognitive bias, gamification, monetary compensation, and student characteristics (gender, age, years of education, student geographical location, and interest in the course certificate) on dropout. We use survival analysis to identify the predictors of dropout and its related factors. The results showed the lowest dropout (74.2%) for cognitive bias and gamification. The results showed that the Peanut effect bias favors the lowest risk of drop up. Likewise, the findings showed the interest in the final certificate as a predictor of retention to complete a four-week MOOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The my-side bias is a well-documented cognitive bias in the evaluation of arguments, in which reasoners in a discussion tend to overvalue arguments that confirm their prior beliefs, while undervaluing arguments that attack their prior beliefs. The first part of this paper develops and justifies a Bayesian model of myside bias at the level of individual reasoning. In the second part, this Bayesian model is implemented in an agent-based model of group discussion among myside-biased agents. The agent-based model is then used to perform a number of experiments with the objective to study whether the myside bias hinders or enhances the ability of groups to collectively track the truth, that is, to reach the correct answer to a given binary issue. An analysis of the results suggests the following: First, whether the truth-tracking ability of groups is helped or hindered by myside bias crucially depends on how the strength of myside bias is differentially distributed across subgroups of discussants holding different beliefs. Second, small groups are more likely to track the truth than larger groups, suggesting that increasing group size has a detrimental effect on collective truth-tracking through discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper synthesises a recent research that includes opinion dynamics models and experiments suggested by the model results. The mathematical analysis establishes that the model's emergent behaviours derives from cognitive biases that should appear in quite general conditions. Moreover, it seems that psychologists have not yet detected these biases. The experimental side of the research therefore includes specifically designed experiments that detect these biases in human subjects. The paper discusses the role of the model in this case, which is revealing phenomena that are almost impossible to observe without its simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stark contrast between different opinions on COVID-19 vaccination suggests that the underlying opinion dynamics is a topic worth studying. Here we build a comprehensive agent-based model by incorporating fear into the HUMAT framework to study how the availability heuristic and confirmation bias influence information processing and impact the opinion dynamics and vaccination rate in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three scenarios are designed to explore the impact of the disease severity, confirmation bias, and authorities on COVID-vaccination opinion polarisation and the vaccination rate. Main simulation results indicate that: 1) Increased fear of disease raises the vaccination rate and accelerates people's uptake of COVID vaccines. 2) Confirmation bias fuels opinion polarisation through the mechanism of information selection and improves the satisfaction of different groups. 3) Opposing authorities and availability heuristic promote opinion polarisation, while more moderate authorities reduce polarisation but do not make it disappear. Implications of these results are discussed for science communication related to complex societal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many risks of events with the potential to cause societal collapse either lie far in the future or have a low chance of materializing in any given year. However, optimal mitigation of these long-term destabilizing risks requires state action in the present. We provide a novel framework for understanding why states struggle to formulate a rational response to these risks. In our framework, insights from cognitive psychology, long-term governance and game theory in international relations are integrated. Cognitive biases limit state forecasting accuracy; political incentives and state structures are generally not aligned with tackling the important challenges of the long-term; and global cooperation, a necessary component of mitigation of long-term destabilizing risks, is constrained by suboptimal institutional design in the face of game-theoretical challenges to cooperation. We illustrate this framework by looking at the case of how states fared against epidemic risk in the pre-COVID-19 period. Using 2019 indices of pandemic preparedness, we show that, as a result of the challenges included in our framework, almost all countries failed to take low-cost, high-benefit measures for preventing and mitigating pandemic risk. This underinvestment was widely acknowledged at the time, and occurred in spite of the well-established favorable cost-benefit ratios of such measures. In addition, international cooperation failed to lead to adequate preventive, mitigative and response policies. We argue that, considering the stakes, deepening our knowledge of why states do not adequately mitigate long-term destabilizing risks should be a priority for the study of governance. We conclude with recommendations both for policy makers and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agency theory posits that the separation of ownership and control in a company allows self-interested managers to pursue their own interests by taking advantage of their superior information compared to shareholders. In this paper, we present evidence that agency costs (i.e., flawed director decision-making) can arise because of directors' limited competence and the problem of specification of objectives, independent of information asymmetry and director independence. Using a 2x2 experimental design addressed to 180 directors, we demonstrate that anchors (Angeletos & Huo, 2021) and the mechanism of fairness (Mussel et al., 2022) may cause directors to deviate from the rational choice that maximizes a given utility function. We argue that the decisionmaking process can undermine a director's ability to effectively monitor by exploiting their limited rationality, and this aspect remains inadequately specified in existing agency models. Consequently, we contribute to the literature that examines the board as a decision-making group by showcasing how a focused analysis of the decision process can unveil new mechanisms within the governance process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Level-2 visual perspective taking (VPT) refers to the ability to understand that other people may see objects differently. Using the number verification task, previous studies have found egocentric and altercentric biases in level-2 VPT. However, the cognitive mechanism of these biases is still unclear. Thus, the present study used the adapted negative priming (NP) paradigm to investigate the role of inhibitory control in overcoming these biases in two experiments. In Experiment 1, we found egocentric bias and observed the NP effect for children and adults. However, there was no significant difference between children and adults in the magnitude of the NP effect, indicating that when children can overcome the egocentric bias in the level-2 VPT, their inhibitory control ability is comparable to that of adults. In Experiment 2, altercentric bias was confirmed in children and adults. However, we did not observe the NP effect in children. These results suggest that children may not have sufficient cognitive capacity to suppress others' perspectives, or may not experience interference by others' perspectives and thus have no need to inhibit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between impulse buying and product shortages in the context of television home shopping. Home shopping networks adopt promotional tactics to pitch sales and even encourage consumers' impulse buying. Marketing and sales management often assume that home shoppers' impulse buying will increase sales and profits, not considering the possibility that a significant number of impulse purchases could be canceled or returned. In general, product shortages driven by consumers' impulse buying may create a phantom stockout condition whereas non‐impulsive consumers are deprived of purchasing opportunities while products are in the process of being canceled or returned. This is the first large‐scale empirical study that addresses the relationship between impulse buying and product shortages in a network retail context. Based on actual transaction data, a novel research plan is developed to measure the impact of consumers' impulse buying on the retailer's revenue and product shortages. The findings indicate that impulse buying may cause product shortages directly. We conduct a post hoc analysis to investigate the differences in the impact of impulse buying between newly introduced and existing products and between hedonic and utilitarian products. Based on the empirical findings, we provide managerial implications for home shopping network retailers. Highlights: Understanding the impact of impulse buying and product shortages in the context of television home shopping networks.Consumer impulse buying could lead to product shortages due to the scarcity effect, a cognitive bias that entices consumers to compete under time pressure.Consumer impulse buying intensity and the expected lost sales are empirically measured by taking advantage of large‐scale transaction data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]