The Effects of Specific Emotions on Ambiguous Decision Making
Abstract
Statement of Scientific Objectives Research on judgment and decision making (JDM) has a long history in the social and behavioral sciences. Although first dominated by research and theory based on rational choice models (Camerer, 2003; Kahneman & Tversky, 1979), this area has evolved to incorporate examinations of the important role of emotions in the JDM process. Within this evolution, early research took a valence approach, examining the effects of positive vs. negative affective feeling states. More recent research, however, has begun to examine the effects of specific, discrete emotions on JDM. This latest literature has allowed for multiple, discrete (not valenced) emotion inputs into a decision-making process and has represented a next evolution in the fieldÕs understanding of the influence of emotion in JDM. One domain of research, however, in which a discrete emotion perspective has not made inroads is JDM in ambiguous or uncertain situations. Examining the influence of discrete emotions to ambiguous or uncertain JDM represents a further evolution in this emerging field of affective science. Because different, discrete emotions have different intrapersonal functions, they should gate different types of JDM processes. No research to date has unpacked these differential effects due to discrete emotions in ambiguous or uncertain JDM. The goal of this project is to do so. Methods to be Employed In the Base Year, we will conduct a one-way experiment with Type of Emotion as the independent variable and scores on a commonly used ambiguous decision making task as the dependent. Measures of trait and state emotion regulation (ER) will also be obtained and used as moderators and mediators, respectively. Data will be analyzed to examine the causal effects of specific, discrete emotions on scores on the ambiguous JDM task, and the potential moderating and mediating effects of ER. Before the main study is conducted we will conduct pilot studies to confirm the methodology. In Optional Year 1, we will conduct two smaller-scale studies essentially borrowing from the design of the Base Year study in order to replicate and extend the findings using different emotion elicitation techniques and dependent measures to ensure that the effects are robust across specific measures or elicitation techniques. We will also transform the experimental paradigm from an incidental elicitation paradigm to a direct association paradigm that specific emotions be centrally tied to the ambiguous JDM task. This will be necessary to examine the effects of specific, discrete emotions that are inherently associated with uncertain or ambiguous tasks on JDM. Significance of the Proposed Effort to the Advancement of Scientific Knowledge Findings from the proposed project will address a major gap in the current literature and will represent an evolution in this burgeoning area of affective and decision sciences. The findings will also lead to subsequent basic and applied research in the area with implications to defense and national security, relevant not only to the DOD/Army but also to law enforcement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010148
Entities
People
- David Matsumoto
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- San Francisco State University
- United States Army