Choosing increases the value of non-instrumental information

Abstract

Curiosity pervades all aspects of human behaviour and decision-making. Recent research indicates that the value of information is determined by its propensity to reduce uncertainty, and the hedonic value of the outcomes it predicts. Previous findings also indicate a preference for options that are freely chosen, compared to equivalently valued alternatives that are externally assigned. Here, we asked whether the value of information also varies as a function of self- or externally-imposed choices. Participants rated their preference for information that followed either a self-chosen decision, or an externally imposed condition. Our results showed that choosing a lottery significantly increased the subjective value of information about the outcome. Computational modelling indicated that this change in information-seeking behaviour was not due to changes in the subjective probability of winning, but instead reflected an independent effect of choosing on the value of resolving uncertainty. These results demonstrate that agency over a prospect is an important source of information value.

Choice Boosts Curiosity

“…Our findings are in line with recent evidence that autonomy boosts curiosity: Participants who watched a video of their choice (from a given set) self-reported higher interest in the topic than those who watched a video without a choice (Schutte & Malouff, 2019), and participants bid larger amounts for lotteries they chose than those they had not chosen (Jiwa et al, 2021). However, in these recent studies, autonomy was confounded with preference.…”

“…This resulted in participants in the choice condition likely choosing their preferred option, and participants in the no-choice condition likely receiving their not-preferred option (with a probability of .66 because there were three options). In the more recent study ( Jiwa et al, 2021), participants always made a choice, but half of the times, their choice was vetoed (resulting in a loss of agency). In agency trials, participants always received their chosen (presumably preferred) option, whereas in no-agency trials, they always received an unchosen (presumably not preferred) option.…”

Hedonism as a motive for information search: biased information-seeking leads to biased beliefs

“…Our results not only support previous findings that individuals prefer positively-valenced information [17][18][19] , but also demonstrate that this preference persists even when more objectively accurate sources of information are available. Furthermore, the hedonic value of the information in our study was low (given the low stakes involved) relative to the many real-world scenarios in which information is typically sought 12,19 .…”

Hedonism as a Motive for Information Search — Biased Information-Seeking Leads to Biased Beliefs

“…Our results not only support previous findings that individuals prefer positively-valenced information (Charpentier et al, 2018;Jiwa et al, 2021;Sharot & Sunstein, 2020), but also demonstrate that this preference persists even when more objectively accurate sources of information are available. Furthermore, the hedonic value of the information in our study was low (given the low stakes involved) relative to the many real-world scenarios in which information is typically sought (Pennycook & Rand, 2021;Sharot & Sunstein, 2020).…”

“…Theories of information valuation suggest that the pursuit of these differing goals may be attributable to the overarching principle of hedonic value -information is often sought or avoided due to the affective state it induces (Bromberg-Martin & Sharot, 2020;Charpentier et al, 2018;Jiwa et al, 2021;Sharot & Sunstein, 2020). In support of this, it has been shown that people prefer early information about the outcome of lotteries when these have potential positive as opposed to negative consequences (Bennett et al, 2021), and when winning is more likely than losing (Goh et al, 2021).…”