Pigeons And Humans Assess Risk In Similar Ways
A psychologist working at the University of Warwick has determined that both pigeons and gamblers respond to risk in similar ways.
You may not see too many pigeons inside Vegas casinos, but according to a recent study they’d fit right in.
A psychologist working at the University of Warwick has determined that both pigeons and gamblers respond to risk in similar ways.
This was determined through a series of experiments performed on both birds and people.
Both species were given 4 options ranging from low to high rewards, some of which involved a modest but guaranteed payout.
To put the human test subjects on a par with the pigeons, the rules were not explained to them in advance and they were left to figure out the system on their own.
Despite discovering the presence of a sure bet, 35 percent of human participants chose to risk it all for the possibility of getting more.
The choices made by the pigeons were almost the exact same.
Much of that decision-making is believed to be a result of having to learn and assess the arrangement through personal experience.
Said the researcher, “humans and pigeons react in similar ways when faced with risky decisions because equivalent mental processes are driving their behaviour. Humans and pigeons are equally influenced by the biggest wins and losses that they have previously encountered”.
You may not see too many pigeons inside Vegas casinos, but according to a recent study they’d fit right in.
A psychologist working at the University of Warwick has determined that both pigeons and gamblers respond to risk in similar ways.
This was determined through a series of experiments performed on both birds and people.
Both species were given 4 options ranging from low to high rewards, some of which involved a modest but guaranteed payout.
To put the human test subjects on a par with the pigeons, the rules were not explained to them in advance and they were left to figure out the system on their own.
Despite discovering the presence of a sure bet, 35 percent of human participants chose to risk it all for the possibility of getting more.
The choices made by the pigeons were almost the exact same.
Much of that decision-making is believed to be a result of having to learn and assess the arrangement through personal experience.
Said the researcher, “humans and pigeons react in similar ways when faced with risky decisions because equivalent mental processes are driving their behaviour. Humans and pigeons are equally influenced by the biggest wins and losses that they have previously encountered”.
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