Changing
Minds
.org

How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

 

Disciplines

 

Techniques

 

Principles

 

Explanations

 

Theories

 

 

Home

 

Blog!

 

Quotes

 

Guest articles

 

Analysis

 

Books

 

Guestbook

 

Links

 

 

Now, you can
buy the book!

"Go beyond
the site"


Add/share/save
this page:

Add to Google

 

 

 

 

Psychological Accounting

 

Explanations > Theories > Psychological Accounting

Description | Research | Example | So What? | See also | References 

 

Description

When people make decisions, they tend to frame the outcomes of their choices in terms of the direct consequences of the choice.

They also compare things in terms of ratios rather than absolute amounts. For example a gain of $15 vs. a gain of $10 will be viewed more positively than a gain of $150 vs. a gain of $140.

Research

Kahneman and Tversky asked people whether, if they lost a $10 bill when going to see a $10 play, they would still see the play. 88% said they would. However, if they lost the $10 ticket, only 46% would be prepared fork out $10 for another ticket.

Example

When I choose a meal at a restaurant, I am more concerned with how it will taste now than the calories that will attach themselves to my waistline.  

So what?

Using it

Frame choices in terms of consequences.

Defending

Think beyond the immediate consequences of a decision.

See also

Framing

References

Tversky and Kahneman (1981), Quattrone and Tversky (1988)

 

Contact Caveat About Students Webmasters Awards Guestbook Feedback Sitemap Changes

 

 

  © Syque 2002-2008

TOP

Massive Content -- Maximum Speed