ISSN : 1226-9654
Psychophysical numbing refers a phenomenon in which the perceived value of saving a fixed number of lives decreases as the total number of lives at risk (“reference group size”) increases. The first experiment replicated factors affecting psychophysical numbing in a different experimental procedure than previous researches. The results showed that psychophysical numbing responding increased, when decision makers evaluated the options in the economic-focus. The second experiment examined the psychophysical numbing in two different presentation mode, namely separate versus joint presentation. In contrast to affect heuristic and evaluability hypothesis, psychophysical numbing increased in joint presentation, in which two options could be compared and analysed. The problems of present theories explaining psychophysical numbing and alternative theories were discussed.
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