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Related Experiment Video

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Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
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Bliss points vs. minimum needs: Tests of competing motivational models.

J H Kagel1, G P Dwyer1, R C Battalio2

  • 1Economics Department, University of Houston - University Park, Houston, TX 77004, U.S.A.

Behavioural Processes
|June 14, 2014
PubMed
Summary

The minimum-needs hypothesis better explains concurrent choice behavior than the minimum-distance hypothesis. This finding is based on analyzing food and fluid consumption data in experiments.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Animal behavior
  • Decision-making

Background:

  • Concurrent choice behavior is influenced by motivational forces.
  • Two main hypotheses exist: minimum-distance and minimum-needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test Staddon's generalized minimum-distance hypothesis against a generalized minimum-needs hypothesis.
  • To determine which hypothesis better predicts concurrent choice behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of molar choice data from experiments.
  • Comparison of model fits for two competing hypotheses.

Main Results:

  • The generalized minimum-needs hypothesis provided a superior fit to the choice data.
  • Distinct preference structures were specified by the models.

Conclusions:

  • The minimum-needs hypothesis is a more effective framework for understanding concurrent choice behavior.
  • This has implications for understanding resource allocation and survival needs.