Unexpected wins fuel risk taking in humans and monkeys!

Published on May 29, 2023

Imagine you’re playing a game of chance, and out of nowhere, you score a big win. Your confidence soars, and you can’t help but think that luck is on your side. Well, it turns out that the same goes for humans and monkeys! Researchers have developed a new model called ‘Dynamic Prospect Theory,’ which combines two important theories from economics and neuroscience. By studying the gambling behavior of both humans and monkeys, the scientists found that after experiencing unexpected victories, these creatures become more willing to take risks. It’s almost like winning gave them a burst of confidence, making them believe that winning again is just around the corner. This fascinating research not only sheds light on decision-making processes in different species, but it also highlights how unexpected success can influence our future actions. To dive deeper into this intriguing study, check out the full article.

Researchers have developed ‘Dynamic Prospect Theory,’ which integrates the most popular model in behavioral economics — prospect theory and a well-established model from neuroscience — reinforcement learning theory. In doing so, they created a dynamic model that successfully explains decision-to-decision changes in the gambling behavior of humans and monkeys. In particular, they found that after unexpected wins both humans and monkeys tend to behave as if they thought that they are more likely to win again.

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