Reinforcement versus balance response in sequential choice

Joel Huber*, Kelly Goldsmith, Cassie Mogilner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Psychologists often explore the impact of one act on a subsequent related act. With an eye to the marketing literature, this paper explores two properties of sequential choices that involve the resolution of competing goals. Reinforcement occurs when the goals driving the first choice are made stronger by that choice and result in a congruent subsequent choice. Balance occurs when the first choice satisfies or extinguishes the goals that led to the original decision, producing an incongruent subsequent choice. This review examines a number of psychological frameworks that account for reinforcement or balance responses in sequential choice and identifies theoretically relevant moderating variables that lead to either response.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-239
Number of pages11
JournalMarketing Letters
Volume19
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008

Keywords

  • Balance
  • Reinforcement
  • Sequential choice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Marketing

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