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Some Evidence for an Association Between Early Life Adversity and Decision Urgency
Johanne P Knowles1, Nathan J Evans2, Darren Burke1
1School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Frontiers in Psychology
|February 27, 2019
Summary
Early life adversity may influence adult decision-making by promoting short-term strategies, impacting decision urgency. This study found evidence linking early adversity to altered decision urgency, suggesting adaptive life history effects.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Decision science
Background:
- Early life adversity (ELA) is linked to adult outcomes via risk/protective factors.
- Life history theory proposes ELA can adaptively shift development towards short-term strategies.
- Decision-making models, like evidence accumulation, involve a decision threshold related to urgency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between decision urgency and ELA.
- To explore if life history theory explains altered decision-making following ELA.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the linear ballistic accumulator model to quantify decision urgency.
- Employed a mixture of analysis methods, including joint modeling.
- Accounted for uncertainty in decision urgency estimations.
Main Results:
- Found weak-to-strong evidence supporting a link between decision urgency and ELA.
- Indicated that ELA may influence the speed and threshold of basic decisions.
Conclusions:
- Suggests that life history strategies, shaped by ELA, can impact fundamental decision-making processes.
- Highlights the adaptive nature of altered decision urgency in response to early environmental cues.
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