Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

7.3K
The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
7.3K
Social Exchange Theory01:26

Social Exchange Theory

211
As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...
211
Social Exchange Theory02:06

Social Exchange Theory

39.3K
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
39.3K
Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

586
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
586
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

18.7K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
18.7K
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy01:24

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

241
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...
241

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Airway management skills and devices on Italian helicopter emergency medical service: a national survey.

Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine·2026
Same author

Innovation in intensive care: a framework to turn ideas and concepts into actionable solutions.

Intensive care medicine·2026
Same author

Microbial signatures and host immune responses associated with the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia among patients with neurological injuries.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

Dispatch center performance and crisis resource management skills in mass casualty incidents: a prehospital simulation study preparing for 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine·2026
Same author

Artificial intelligence-based image recognition in bronchoscopy: software development and randomized controlled trial for training evaluation in intensive care residents.

BMC medical education·2026
Same author

The SIS NET ICU study: characteristics of patients with severe community acquired pneumonia admitted to Italian ICUs-a multicenter prospective observational study.

Journal of anesthesia, analgesia and critical care·2026
Same journal

Transferring ways of thinking and mathematizing: The statistical approach between physics and biology.

Studies in history and philosophy of science·2026
Same journal

The Dynamics of Quantum Gravity: The Missing Piece in the Spacetime Emergentist Account.

Studies in history and philosophy of science·2026
Same journal

A frame-based approach for reconstructing theories.

Studies in history and philosophy of science·2026
Same journal

Strategic ignorance, and the management of performative effects: Lessons from climate economics.

Studies in history and philosophy of science·2026
Same journal

Fictionalism and scientific realism: A response to ungrounded criticism.

Studies in history and philosophy of science·2026
Same journal

Is Emergy really a theory of value ?

Studies in history and philosophy of science·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
07:07

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

9.0K

How thin rational choice theory explains choices.

Roberto Fumagalli1

  • 1Department of Political Economy, King's College London, UK; Department of Philosophy, London School of Economics, UK; Behavioral Ethics Lab, University of Pennsylvania, US.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
|September 22, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study demonstrates that thin rational choice theory (RCT) can explain real-world choices, countering critiques that it lacks explanatory power. It explores multiple ways thin RCT applies and defends its utility in decision sciences.

Keywords:
Decision-makingExplanationRational choice theoryRationalityScientific modelling

More Related Videos

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
13:04

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods

Published on: September 19, 2012

12.3K
Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
07:05

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

6.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
07:07

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

9.0K
Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
13:04

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods

Published on: September 19, 2012

12.3K
Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
07:05

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

6.3K

Area of Science:

  • Decision Sciences
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Critics argue that thin rational choice theory (RCT) inadequately explains real-world agent choices.
  • The distinction between 'thick' and 'thin' applications of RCT is central to these critiques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate that thin RCT possesses explanatory potential for real-world agent choices.
  • To address and refute prominent objections raised against thin RCT's explanatory capabilities.
  • To clarify the implications for the philosophical debate on RCT's explanatory power.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of frequently cited RCT applications across various decision sciences.
  • Comparative examination of different senses in which thin RCT can provide explanations.
  • Rebuttal of key criticisms leveled against thin RCT.

Main Results:

  • Identification of at least two distinct ways thin RCT can explain agent choices.
  • Demonstration that thin RCT's explanatory potential is underestimated by critics.
  • Successful defense of thin RCT against major objections.

Conclusions:

  • Thin RCT offers valuable explanatory frameworks for understanding real-world decision-making.
  • The critique of thin RCT often overlooks its nuanced applications and explanatory scope.
  • This work contributes to understanding the explanatory power of RCT and various accounts of explanation.