Conveniently dependent or naively overconfident? An experimental study on the reaction to external help

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216617
• Publication Date: 2019-05-13T17:25:28Z
• Authors: Yinjunjie Zhang; Zhicheng Xu; Marco A. Palma
• Keywords: D81 - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty; Adult; Male; J16 - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination; Science; Q; Decision Making; 05 social sciences; R; Age Factors; Choice Behavior; Self Concept; C91 - Laboratory; Young Adult; Reward; 8. Economic growth; Individual Behavior; Medicine; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Research Article

The rapid development and diffusion of new technologies such as automation artificial intelligence makes life more convenient. At the same time, people may develop overdependence on technology to simplify everyday tasks or reduce level effort required accomplish them. We conduct a two-phase real-effort laboratory experiment assess how external assistance affects subsequent revealed preferences for convenience lower versus monetary rewards requiring greater effort. results suggest that men treated with help in first phase tend choose difficult options potentially higher rewards. In contrast, after being help, women exhibit stronger propensity utilize an easier task are less likely option carries potential earnings.