Strategic self-ignorance
(2016) In Journal of Risk and Uncertainty 52(2). p.117-136- Abstract
- We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to over-indulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals—a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58%) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also... (More)
- We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to over-indulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals—a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58%) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also find evidence consistent with our model on the determinants of strategic self-ignorance. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to
over-indulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals—a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58%) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We... (More) - We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to
over-indulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals—a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58%) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also find evidence consistent with our model on the determinants of strategic self-ignorance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/f13f856c-02d9-4662-8186-d5c50244febe
- author
- Thunström, Linda ; Nordström, Jonas LU ; Shogren, Jason F. ; Ehmke, Mariah and van't Veld, Klaas
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016-04-15
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Strategic ignorance, Calorie information avoidance, Guilt aversion, Selfcontrol, Strategic ignorance, Calorie information avoidance, Guilt aversion, Self-control, D03, D81, D83
- in
- Journal of Risk and Uncertainty
- volume
- 52
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 20 pages
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:84976254399
- wos:000378357600002
- ISSN
- 1573-0476
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11166-016-9236-9
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f13f856c-02d9-4662-8186-d5c50244febe
- date added to LUP
- 2016-06-23 09:52:45
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 14:31:21
@article{f13f856c-02d9-4662-8186-d5c50244febe,
abstract = {{We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to over-indulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals—a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58%) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also find evidence consistent with our model on the determinants of strategic self-ignorance.}},
author = {{Thunström, Linda and Nordström, Jonas and Shogren, Jason F. and Ehmke, Mariah and van't Veld, Klaas}},
issn = {{1573-0476}},
keywords = {{Strategic ignorance; Calorie information avoidance; Guilt aversion; Selfcontrol; Strategic ignorance; Calorie information avoidance; Guilt aversion; Self-control; D03; D81; D83}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{117--136}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Journal of Risk and Uncertainty}},
title = {{Strategic self-ignorance}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11166-016-9236-9}},
doi = {{10.1007/s11166-016-9236-9}},
volume = {{52}},
year = {{2016}},
}