Affiliation:
1. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
2. Max Planck Institute for Human Development
3. University of Texas at Austin
Abstract
AbstractHuman cognition is incredibly flexible, allowing us to thrive within diverse environments. However, humans also tend to stick to familiar strategies, even when there are better solutions available. How do we exhibit flexibility in some contexts, yet inflexibility in others? TheConstrained Flexibility Framework (CFF)proposes that cognitive flexibility is shaped by variability, predictability, and harshness within decision-making environments. The CFF asserts that high elective flexibility (switching away from a working strategy) is maladaptive in stable or predictably variable environments, but adaptive in unpredictable environments, so long as harshness is low. Here we provide evidence for the CFF using a decision-making task completed by 100 English-speaking adults. In line with the CFF, we found that elective flexibility was suppressed in Stable Not Harsh, Stable Harsh, and Variable Harsh conditions compared to the Variable Not Harsh condition. Our results highlight the need to study how cognitive flexibility adapts to diverse contexts.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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