Definition
Error management theory refers to a theory that explains how decisions are made under uncertainty; specifically, cognition to arrive at such decisions functions to minimize the net evolutionary fitness cost of errors in judgment. Such cost minimization can sometimes, however, produce biased reasoning that actually increases the chances of arriving at erroneous conclusions.
Introduction
During humans’ ancestral history, they have faced recurring problems that created selection pressure for adaptive solutions. In general, such problems included identifying mating opportunities for reproductive success and staying alive through avoiding aggressive encounters and infectious disease. Due to these recurring problems, error management theory (Haselton and Buss 2000) suggests that the human brain has evolved cognitive biases aimed at ensuring reproductive success and survival even if it is...
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DeLecce, T. (2018). Error Management Theory. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1629-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1629-1
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