NDLI: Risk should be objectively defined: comment on Pelé and Sueur

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Zentall, Thomas R. Smith, Aaron P.
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	Pelé and Sueur (2013) propose that optimal decisions depend on delay of reinforcement, accuracy (probability or magnitude of reinforcement), and risk. The problem with this model is delay and accuracy are easy to define, but according to Pelé and Sueur the third, risk, depends on the animal’s perceived or “interpreted” risk rather than actual (experienced) risk. Thus, choice of the smaller more immediate reward over the larger delayed reward (the delay discounting function) is viewed by the authors as optimal because delay is associated with increased risk (due to potential competition or predation). But perceived risk is assessed by the decision made (e.g., the slope of the discounting function), and since there is virtually no actual risk involved, by default if there is no independent means of measuring risk, according to Pelé and Sueur, all choices can be viewed as optimal. Thus, optimality is an untestable concept. We suggest that risk be defined by the actual risk (given sufficient experience to judge it) and under conditions in which there is no actual risk (or risk is controlled), when animals choose an alternative that provides a lower rate of access to food, that one considers such choice to be suboptimal.
Starting Page	1433
Ending Page	1436
Page Count	4
File Format	PDF
ISSN	14359448
Journal	Animal Cognition
Volume Number	17
Issue Number	6
e-ISSN	14359456
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2014-06-01
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Behavioural Sciences Zoology Human Physiology Evolutionary Biology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Experimental and Cognitive Psychology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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