Individual differences in escalation of commitment: a multi-level adaptive learning perspective

Kin Fai Ellick Wong (), Jessica Y. Y. Kwong and Michelle Yik
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Kin Fai Ellick Wong: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Jessica Y. Y. Kwong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Michelle Yik: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Journal of Computational Social Science, 2025, vol. 8, issue 1, No 11, 23 pages

Abstract: Abstract Previous studies have found stable individual differences in decision-making under escalation situations. Conventionally, the differences have been attributed to dispositional factors. In this paper, we offer multi-level adaptive learning as an alternative, positing that stable individual differences can develop (a) from an equal starting point at which there are no individual differences among all simulated learners, and (b) without the presumption of influences from dispositional factors. The results of three computer simulation studies showed that after sufficient learning trials, simulated individuals developed the key characteristics of stable individual differences in escalation of commitment: (a) a stable escalation tendency, (b) stable individual differences in escalation tendency, (c) decreases in stability of individual differences as more learning occurs, and (d) decreases in test–retest correlation as the test–retest interval increases. The findings suggest that adaptive learning can explain the emergence and development of individual differences in escalation of commitment without the assumption of dispositional factors.

Keywords: Escalation of commitment; Adaptive learning; Individual differences; Personality; Multi-level adaptive learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s42001-024-00339-7

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