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Probabilistic functionalism as a limiting condition for robustness
Mattias Forsgren1, Benjamin Mandl2,3, Gustav Karreskog Rehbinder4,5
1Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, P. O. Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden. mattias.forsgren@psyk.uu.se.
Scientific Reports
|December 22, 2025
Summary
Behavioral phenomena robustness depends on how well cues predict outcomes. Understanding cue-outcome relationships is key for reliable behavioral science findings and effective nudging strategies.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Cognitive Psychology
- Decision Making
Background:
- Behavioral phenomena often rely on stimulus characteristics acting as cues.
- The predictability of outcomes by these cues influences behavioral responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions determining the robustness of behavioral phenomena.
- To explore the role of cue-outcome relationships in behavioral responses.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of stimulus characteristics.
- Assessment of the attraction effect and default nudge.
- Analysis of rule learning manipulations.
Main Results:
- The attraction effect and default nudge were proportional to the predictive accuracy of stimulus characteristics for the superior option.
- Similar results were observed in rule learning tasks.
Conclusions:
- Cue-outcome relationships are an underappreciated factor limiting the robustness of behavioral phenomena.
- This perspective has significant implications for the design and effectiveness of nudging strategies.
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