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The foreign-language effect: thinking in a foreign tongue reduces decision biases
Boaz Keysar1, Sayuri L Hayakawa, Sun Gyu An
1University of Chicago-Psychology, 5848 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, USA. boaz@uchicago.edu
Psychological Science
|April 21, 2012
Summary
Using a foreign language reduces decision-making biases like framing and loss aversion. This occurs because a foreign language offers greater cognitive and emotional distance, leading to more rational choices.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Decision Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Decision-making is often influenced by cognitive biases.
- The language used for decision-making may impact choice consistency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether using a foreign language affects decision-making biases.
- To determine if foreign language use reduces framing effects and loss aversion.
Main Methods:
- Six experiments were conducted.
- Participants made choices presented in their native or a foreign language.
- Decision-making biases, including framing and loss aversion, were measured.
Main Results:
- The framing effect was eliminated when decisions were made in a foreign language.
- Foreign language use reduced loss aversion, increasing acceptance of positive expected value bets.
- Participants were less influenced by framing manipulations in a foreign language.
Conclusions:
- Using a foreign language mitigates common decision-making biases.
- Cognitive and emotional distance afforded by a foreign language promotes more systematic decision-making.
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