Modeling reproductive decisions with simple heuristics

This paper reviews research on the ecological rationality of human decision making in the domain of reproduction, showing how fertility-related decisions are commonly made using various simple heuristics matched to the structure of the environment in which they are applied, rather than being made wi...

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Published in:Demographic research 2013-07, Vol.29, p.641-662
Main Authors: Todd, Peter M., Hills, Thomas T., Hendrickson, Andrew T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Animal reproduction
Choices
Decision Making
Decision Models
Demography
Ecological modeling
Environmental Factors
Fertility
Fertility, Human
Heuristics
Mate Selection
Mating behavior
Modeling
Parental investment
Rational choice theory
Rationality
Review Article
Social evolution
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container_title Demographic research
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creator Todd, Peter M.
Hills, Thomas T.
Hendrickson, Andrew T.
description This paper reviews research on the ecological rationality of human decision making in the domain of reproduction, showing how fertility-related decisions are commonly made using various simple heuristics matched to the structure of the environment in which they are applied, rather than being made with information-hungry mechanisms based on optimization or rational economic choice. First, heuristics for sequential mate search are covered; these heuristics determine when to stop the process of mate search by deciding that a good-enough mate who is also mutually interested has been found, using a process of aspiration-level setting and assessing. These models are tested via computer simulation and comparison to demographic age-at-first-marriage data. Next, a heuristic process of feature-based mate comparison and choice is discussed, in which mate choices are determined by a simple process of feature-matching with relaxing standards over time. Finally, methods for testing the use of such mate choice heuristics in a specific population over time are then described.
doi_str_mv 10.4054/DemRes.2013.29.24
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source International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS); Publicly Available Content Database; JSTOR Archival Journals and Primary Sources Collection; Politics Collection; Social Science Premium Collection (Proquest) (PQ_SDU_P3); Sociology Collection; Sociological Abstracts
subjects Age
Animal reproduction
Choices
Decision Making
Decision Models
Demography
Ecological modeling
Environmental Factors
Fertility
Fertility, Human
Heuristics
Mate Selection
Mating behavior
Modeling
Parental investment
Rational choice theory
Rationality
Review Article
Social evolution
title Modeling reproductive decisions with simple heuristics
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