Systematic mistakes are likely in bounded optimal decision-making systems
Document Type
Article
Department
Mathematics (HMC)
Publication Date
2-2008
Abstract
Systematic mistakes can be distinguished from other types of mistakes in that they are repeatable and predictable within a given organism, and are not due to uncertainty or lack of information. Here we provide a mathematical definition for the concept of systematic mistakes, which captures the way this concept has been used in the behavioral sciences. We also provide an analytical model of information processing networks that are made of large numbers of components, in analogy to the brain being made of a large number of neurons. We show that, for almost all behavioral tasks, and for a wide range of limitations on the computational complexity of the decision-making network, the best possible decision-makers will make systematic mistakes. This result, together with available empirical evidence, suggests that violations of rationality in humans and animals are consistent with natural selection, as the latter operates under constraints.
Rights Information
© 2007 Elsevier Ltd
Terms of Use & License Information
DOI
10.1016/j.jtbi.2007.09.044
Recommended Citation
Livnat, Adi and Pippenger, Nicholas, "Systematic mistakes are likely in bounded optimal decision-making systems", Journal of Theoretical Biology, 250:3(February 2008) 410-423.
