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Variability and harshness shape flexible strategy‑use in support of the constrained flexibility framework

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Pope-Caldwell,  Sarah
Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society;

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Maurits,  Luke       
Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society;

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Haun,  Daniel       
Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society;

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Pope‑Caldwell_Variability_SciRep_Suppl_2024.pdf
(Supplementary material), 869KB

Citation

Pope-Caldwell, S., Deffner, D., Maurits, L., Neumann, T., & Haun, D. (2024). Variability and harshness shape flexible strategy‑use in support of the constrained flexibility framework. Scientific Reports, 14: 7236. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-57800-w.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000F-2299-E
Abstract
Human 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? The constrained flexibility framework (CFF) proposes that cognitive flexibility is shaped by variability, predictability, and harshness within decision-making environments. The CFF asserts that high elective switching (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 across two studies with a total of 299 English-speaking adults. In line with the CFF, we found that elective switching was suppressed by harshness, using both within- and between-subjects harshness manipulations. Our results highlight the need to study how cognitive flexibility adapts to diverse contexts.