Information overload for (bounded) rational agents
Abstract
Bayesian inference offers an optimal means of processing environmental information and so an advantage in natural selection. We consider the apparent, recent trend in increasing dysfunctional disagreement in, for example, political debate. This is puzzling because Bayesian inference benefits from powerful convergence theorems, precluding dysfunctional disagreement. Information overload is a plausible factor limiting the applicability of full Bayesian inference, but what is the link with dysfunctional disagreement? Individuals striving to be Bayesian-rational, but challenged by information overload, might simplify by using Bayesian networks or the separation of questions into knowledge partitions, the latter formalized with quantum probability theory. We demonstrate the massive simplification afforded by either approach, but also show how they contribute to dysfunctional disagreement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1098/rspb.2020.2957
Entities
People
- Albert Barque-duran
- Andrei Khrennikov
- Emmanuel M. Pothos
- Irina Basieva
- Katy Tapper
- Stephan Lewandowsky
Organizations
- Linnaeus University
- Office of Naval Research Global
- University of Bristol
- University of Lleida
- University of London