Are Personality Traits Related to how Healthy Adults Adjust Their Decision-Making Strategies Under Varying Levels of Reward and Loss Controllability?

Abstract

Abstract 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.