Title

The consistency of visual attention to losses and loss sensitivity across valuation and choice

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2018

Abstract

Sensitivity to losses has been found to vary greatly across individuals. One explanation for this variability is that for some losses garner more visual attention and are subsequently given more weight in decision-making processes. In three studies we examined whether biases in visual attention toward potential losses during valuation and choice were related to loss sensitivity, as well as the valuations provided and the choices made. In all studies, we find a positive relationship between estimated loss sensitivity and attention to losses for valuation, with increased attention to losses predicting decreased valuations. For choices, however, there was no robust relationship between attention and loss sensitivity or the choices made. In addition, preferences were not strongly consistent across tasks (i.e., valuations and choices did not robustly align), nor was the distribution of attention robustly related across tasks. Study 3 involved testing across separate sessions and found significant consistency in loss sensitivity and attention to losses across sessions for both choice and valuation. In sum, it appears that loss sensitivity varies across individuals, is differentially related to attention across tasks, and shows some consistency across time. Attention to losses also shows consistency across time, and its relationship with valuations appears much more robust than with choices; patterns of results that add to research suggesting that different cognitive processes underlie valuations and choices.

Publication Title

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

Start Page No.

1791

End Page No.

1809

DOI

10.1037/xge0000524

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