Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
13:04
Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
Coping with Unfavorable Attribute Values in Choice.
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
|March 9, 2000
Summary
Decision makers facing quality-price trade-offs with unfavorable options may choose higher quality as an emotion-focused coping strategy. This choice helps manage negative emotions arising from difficult decisions.
Area of Science:
- Decision Science
- Consumer Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Consumers often face choices with trade-offs between quality and price.
- Understanding decision-making under unfavorable conditions is crucial for consumer behavior research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how decision-makers cope with quality-price trade-offs when alternatives have unfavorable quality values.
- To examine the role of emotion and coping mechanisms in these choices.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design manipulating quality-attribute values (favorable vs. unfavorable).
- Analysis of choice behavior between higher-quality/higher-price and lower-quality/lower-price alternatives.
- Controlled for cognitive factors like attribute range and importance.
Main Results:
- Choices involving unfavorable quality values trigger negative emotions.
- Higher quality selection serves as an emotion-focused coping mechanism.
- Coping-motivated choices persist even when cognitive factors are controlled.
Conclusions:
- Negative emotions associated with unfavorable quality influence choice behavior.
- Selecting higher quality can be a strategy to mitigate negative feelings during decision-making.
- The study highlights the impact of emotional coping on consumer choices beyond purely cognitive assessments.
Related Concept Videos
03:26Framing Effects
Information is everywhere and its presentation—such as how and when items are presented—can impact our perceptions and decisions surrounding the info. This broad concept umbrellas framing effects—influences that occur due to the way information is framed in its appearance, whether it’s purely the order or the specific wording of a message. Let’s take a look at numerous ways in which two versions of something can objectively say the same thing, yet we respond in different ways based on the...
01:09Decision Making: P-value Method
The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
01:14Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...
01:27Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
Coping strategies are methods people use to manage, tolerate, or reduce the effects of stressors. These strategies involve both behavioral and psychological actions to handle stressful situations. One common approach is problem-focused coping, which aims to change or eliminate the source of stress rather than merely addressing its consequences. This method involves taking direct action to resolve the issue causing stress.
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
01:29Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory
Attribution theory plays a crucial role in social psychology, helping to explain how individuals interpret the causes of behavior. One prominent model within this field is Harold Kelley's covariation theory, which provides a systematic approach to determining whether internal traits or external circumstances drive a person's actions. The model posits that individuals rely on three key types of information—consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness—to make these judgments.Consensus: Comparing...
01:19Personal Choice and Fate Attributions
Some individuals interpret life events as a consequence of their personal choices and actions, while others believe that outcomes are dictated by fate or destiny. This divergence in perspective has been examined in psychological and cross-cultural studies, particularly in relation to religious faith and cultural beliefs about causality.Fate and Personal ResponsibilityPeople who emphasize personal responsibility view events as direct consequences of their decisions. For instance, breaking a leg...