Towards a brain-to-society systems model of individual choice

Laurette Dubé*, Antoine Bechara, Ulf Böckenholt, Asim Ansari, Alain Dagher, Mark Daniel, Wayne S. Desarbo, Lesley K. Fellows, Ross A. Hammond, Terry T.K. Huang, Scott Huettel, Yan Kestens, Bärbel Knäuper, Peter Kooreman, Douglas Spencer Moore, Ale Smidts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Canonical models of rational choice fail to account for many forms of motivated adaptive behaviors, specifically in domains such as food selections. To describe behavior in such emotion- and reward-laden scenarios, researchers have proposed dual-process models that posit competition between a slower, analytic faculty and a fast, impulsive, emotional faculty. In this paper, we examine the assumptions and limitations of these approaches to modeling motivated choice. We argue that models of this form, though intuitively attractive, are biologically implausible. We describe an approach to motivated choice based on sequential sampling process models that can form a solid theoretical bridge between what is known about brain function and environmental influences upon choice. We further suggest that the complex and dynamic relationships between biology, behavior, and environment affecting choice at the individual level must inform aggregate models of consumer choice. Models using agent-based complex systems may further provide a principled way to relate individual and aggregate consumer choices to the aggregate choices made by businesses and social institutions. We coin the term "brain-to-society systems" choice model for this broad integrative approach.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)323-336
Number of pages14
JournalMarketing Letters
Volume19
Issue number3/4
Early online date30 Sept 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2008

Research programs

  • RSM MKT

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