CiNet Monthly Seminar

July 17, 2024
15:00-17:00 (JST)

Apply for participation
on-line:
or you can come to the Conference Room on the 1st floor of the CiNet bldg.

Sign up by noon on July 16
When we cannot identify your affiliation etc., we may have to turn down your application.
You will be notified of participation details by e-mail on July 16.

15:00
“The choice-premium: Is there intrinsic value in decision-making?”

Ophelia Deroy
Professor
Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and the Study of Religion
Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Germany

Abstract:
The choice-premium, which refers to the increased value we assign to options we select ourselves, is a well-documented phenomenon extensively exploited by marketers. Consumers frequently pay extra for customizable products, even when these customizations do not significantly enhance the product’s core functionality. The 17th-century Dutch philosopher

Baruch Spinoza suggested that the joy derived from making choices is fundamentally illusory, a perspective supported by many contemporary accounts that label the choice-premium as “irrational.” However, if individuals value the time and effort invested in their decision-making process, this premium may indeed be rational. This talk presents our recent work that disentangles the effort-premium from the choice-premium and distinguishes the added value of predictability from that of control in decision-making. By investigating these differences, we aim to provide a clearer understanding of where the choice-premium may hold genuine value and where it may be illusory.

15:50
“Why is it so hard to teach your dog not to jump on the bed? Action bias in learning”

Bahador Bahrami
Senior Scientist
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Germany

Abstract:
Anyone trying to teach a dog not to jump up on a bed can confirm how difficult it is to communicate a link between a reward (such as a food treat) and not doing something. Google “how to teach your dog not to jump on people”, and you will see several million webpages warning you that the path will be long and full of repeated disappointments. Some pet advice pages flag that this may not be possible without punishment. In the talk, I will present empirical evidence from our own lab and many others who have investigated the question why it is so hard to learn when doing nothing is the best possible course of action.

Host : Nobuhiro Hagura