Intrinsic motivation for choice varies with individual risk attitudes and the controllability of the environment.

ABSTRACT: When deciding between options that do or do not lead to future choices, humans often choose to choose. We studied choice seeking by asking subjects to first decide between a choice opportunity or performing a computer-selected action, after which they either chose freely or performed the forced action. Subjects preferred choice when these options were equally rewarded, even deterministically, and traded extrinsic rewards for opportunities to choose. We explained individual variability in choice seeking using reinforcement learning models incorporating risk sensitivity and overvaluation of rewards obtained through choice. Model fits revealed that 28% of subjects were sensitive to the worst possible outcome associated with free choice, and this pessimism reduced their choice preference with

SUBMITTER: Munuera J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10479909 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature