School of Business and Law, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway.
Behav Processes. 2022 Aug;200:104666. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104666. Epub 2022 Jun 6.
The discounting paradigm has been challenged by an increasing number of studies presenting qualitative variations in the individual discount function. Particularly, the subjective value of a loss does not necessarily systematically decrease with delay to the outcome. Qualitative variation refers to variations in shape rather than steepness of the discount function, such as positive discounting, zero discounting, unsystematic discounting, and negative discounting. Data from three previous studies were analysed in terms of qualitative variations observed in delay discounting patterns. Attention was also given to methods used and to the relationship between the results from the various levels of investigation. We found qualitative differences between discounting of monetary gains and losses on an individual level. While discounting of gains mainly took the form of conventional positive discounting, discounting of losses often took the form of zero discounting or unsystematic discounting. Further, there were more qualitative variations in discounting of both gains and losses among adolescents compared to adults. By examining verbal reports and single choices, we identified some of the rules and consequences involved in these delay discounting patterns. The different rules and consequences observed for the gain and loss scenarios, support that discounting of gains and losses may involve different combinations of reinforcing contingencies. These results point towards a possible way to explain the influences of qualitative variations in delay discounting.
折扣范式受到越来越多的研究的挑战，这些研究提出了个体折扣函数的定性变化。特别是，损失的主观价值不一定会随着结果的延迟而系统地降低。定性变化是指折扣函数形状的变化，而不是陡峭程度的变化，例如正折扣、零折扣、非系统折扣和负折扣。从三个先前的研究中分析了数据，这些数据涉及到延迟折扣模式中观察到的定性变化。还关注了所使用的方法以及各个调查层面之间的关系。我们发现，在个体层面上，金钱收益和损失的折扣存在定性差异。虽然收益的折扣主要采用常规的正折扣形式，但损失的折扣往往采用零折扣或非系统折扣的形式。此外，青少年在收益和损失的折扣方面比成年人有更多的定性变化。通过检查口头报告和单项选择，我们确定了这些延迟折扣模式中涉及的一些规则和后果。对于收益和损失情况观察到的不同规则和后果表明，收益和损失的折扣可能涉及不同的强化条件组合。这些结果表明了一种可能的解释延迟折扣中定性变化的影响的方式。
