Temporal discounting when the choice is between two delayed rewards

J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 2005 Sep;31(5):1121-33. doi: 10.1037/0278-7393.31.5.1121.

Abstract

The present experiments extend the temporal discounting paradigm from choice between an immediate and a delayed reward to choice between 2 delayed rewards: a smaller amount of money available sooner and a larger amount available later. Across different amounts and delays, the data were consistently well described by a hyperbola-like discounting function, and the degree of discounting decreased systematically as the delay to the sooner reward increased. Three theoretical models (the elimination-by-aspects, present-value comparison, and common-aspect attenuation hypotheses) were evaluated. The best account of the data was provided by the common-aspect attenuation hypothesis, according to which the common aspect of the choice alternatives (i.e., the time until the sooner reward is available) receives less weight in the decision-making process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Choice Behavior*
  • Decision Making*
  • Humans
  • Models, Psychological
  • Reward*
  • Time Factors