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dc.contributor.advisorGabor, Csifcsak
dc.contributor.authorAngen, Caroline Alexandra Grant
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-24T05:34:10Z
dc.date.available2022-08-24T05:34:10Z
dc.date.issued2022-05-16en
dc.description.abstractAbstract Research suggests a dual-system theory of motivation on decision-making in humans, consisting of the Pavlovian and the Instrumental systems. These systems influence how we respond to environmental threats and rewards either in an automatic or in a more deliberate manner, and their interaction can either optimize or hinder decision-making. Importantly, humans seem to rely more heavily on their Pavlovian valuation when controllability over environmental events is compromised, even if this leads to maladaptive choices. In this study we investigate if certain personality traits are related to how we adjust our decision-making strategies under varying levels of outcome controllability. To our knowledge, no research has addressed this domain. We randomized healthy adults (N = 50) into 2 groups and used a 5-block reinforcement learning task where we manipulated outcome controllability in two blocks, by presenting random feedback irrespective of responses, accompanied by a low reward (30%) and high loss rate (70%). Manipulated participants reported lower levels of perceived control and success, but our manipulation did not interfere robustly with response accuracy or decision-making strategies (i.e., the magnitude of Pavlovian bias) in non-manipulated blocks. Importantly, when merging the dataset with another one, we found a positive relationship between the magnitude of Pavlovian bias and the tendency to pursuit desired goals and develop hopelessness in everyday life. Also, we found a negative relationship between Pavlovian bias and the tendency to approach rewarding stimuli. Overall, our study revealed that certain personality traits can determine how we govern our choices under varying levels of controllability. Keywords: Decision-making, Pavlovian bias, instrumental system, controllability, personality.  en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/26363
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherUiT Norges arktiske universitetno
dc.publisherUiT The Arctic University of Norwayen
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2022 The Author(s)
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0en_US
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)en_US
dc.subject.courseIDPSY-3900
dc.subjectDecision-makingen_US
dc.subjectpavlovian biasen_US
dc.subjectinstrumental systemen_US
dc.subjectcontrollabilityen_US
dc.subjectpersonalityen_US
dc.titleAre Personality Traits Related to how Healthy Adults Adjust Their Decision-Making Strategies Under Varying Levels of Reward and Loss Controllability?en_US
dc.typeMastergradsoppgaveno
dc.typeMaster thesisen


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Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)