Individuals' insight into intrapersonal externalities

摘要: An intrapersonal externality exists when an individual’s decisions affec t the outcomes of her future decisions. It can result in decreasing or increasing average returns to rate consu mption, as occurs addiction exercise. Experimentation using Harvard Game, which models externalities, has found differences decision making between drug users and control subjects, leading argument that these externalities influence course illicit use. Nevertheless, it is unclear how participants who behave optimally conceptualise problem. We report two experiments a simplified tested difference s contingency knowledge chose did not. Those demonstrated optimal performance exhibited both pattern correct responses systematic errors questions abo ut payoff schedules. The suggested they learned explicit change reinforcement on trail-by-trial basis. They not have, need, full historical interaction each payoff. also no evidence choice were given guaranteed payment paid contingent their performance, but those able more experiment progressed, suggesting explored rather than settling into routine. Exper iment 2 showed fixed inter-trial interval results.