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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task

Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task

Published on: January 9, 2016

Hyperbolic discounting of delayed social interaction.

Shawn R Charlton¹, Edmund Fantino, Bradley D Gossett

¹Department of Psychology & Counseling, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, AR 72035, USA. scharlton@uca.edu

Learning & Behavior

|October 12, 2012

Summary

This study reveals that the value of social interactions decreases over time, similar to money and goods. Hyperbolic discounting models best explain this value decline for delayed social rewards.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Economics
Decision Science
Psychology

Background:

Temporal discounting quantifies value loss for delayed outcomes.
Hyperbolic discounting accurately models value changes for various tangible goods and commodities.
The discounting of social interactions has been less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional form that best describes the devaluation of delayed social interactions.
To determine if established discounting models apply to social outcomes.

Main Methods:

Employed standard binary-choice discounting procedures.
Assessed value changes for delayed social interactions across 93 participants.

Main Results:

Hyperbolic, hyperboloid, and exponential equations effectively described the relationship between delay and the value of social interaction.
Hyperbolic models demonstrated a superior fit to the data compared to the exponential model.
Findings align with previous research on nonsocial outcomes.

Conclusions:

The value of social interactions is subject to temporal discounting, mirroring patterns observed for monetary and other tangible rewards.
Hyperbolic discounting provides a robust framework for understanding the devaluation of delayed social rewards.
Extends the application of temporal discounting principles to social decision-making.