Consumers often choose against their own predictions, study finds.
The article explores why people don't always choose what they predict they will like the most when making decisions about what to buy. It suggests that people consider not only which option will give them the most enjoyment but also which choice aligns with their beliefs about decision-making. The researchers found that when people believe they should pick the option with the highest monetary value, they may end up choosing something different from what they predicted would bring them the most satisfaction. This inconsistency can even happen with values that aren't truly about money. The researchers showed that this prediction-decision mismatch can be influenced by how values are presented and can be changed through experimental manipulation.