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🧃intermediate microeconomic theory review

Cumulative Prospect Theory

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Cumulative Prospect Theory is a behavioral economic theory that describes how people make decisions under risk and uncertainty, particularly emphasizing their tendency to evaluate potential losses and gains differently. It extends the original prospect theory by introducing a cumulative weighting function that accounts for the likelihood of outcomes, which allows for a more nuanced understanding of how individuals perceive risks and make choices when faced with uncertain situations. This theory highlights the concept of loss aversion, where losses weigh heavier on individuals than equivalent gains, influencing their decision-making processes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Cumulative Prospect Theory posits that people evaluate potential outcomes based on perceived gains and losses relative to a reference point rather than absolute outcomes.
  2. The theory includes a cumulative weighting function that allows for the incorporation of decision weights, which adjust how probabilities are perceived compared to their actual likelihood.
  3. It provides an explanation for behaviors such as buying lottery tickets or insurance, where individuals overvalue low-probability events and undervalue high-probability ones.
  4. Loss aversion is central to Cumulative Prospect Theory; research shows that losses are typically felt about 1.5 to 2 times more intensely than equivalent gains.
  5. The framework has been influential in fields like finance and marketing, helping explain why investors may hold losing stocks too long or consumers may be hesitant to try new products due to perceived risks.

Review Questions

  • How does cumulative prospect theory explain the different ways individuals evaluate gains versus losses when making decisions?
    • Cumulative prospect theory explains that individuals assess potential outcomes based on their perceived gains and losses relative to a reference point rather than focusing solely on final outcomes. This results in loss aversion, where the pain of losing is felt more acutely than the pleasure of gaining an equivalent amount. Consequently, when faced with choices, people are more likely to avoid risks that could lead to losses, even if there is potential for greater gains.
  • What role does the cumulative weighting function play in cumulative prospect theory's assessment of risk and decision-making?
    • The cumulative weighting function in cumulative prospect theory adjusts how probabilities are perceived by individuals, impacting their decision-making under uncertainty. It demonstrates that people tend to overweight small probabilities while underweighting larger ones, which affects their choices. For instance, this function explains why individuals may purchase lottery tickets despite low odds of winning or why they buy insurance against unlikely events; they misjudge the actual probabilities involved in these scenarios.
  • Evaluate the implications of cumulative prospect theory for understanding consumer behavior in financial markets.
    • Cumulative prospect theory has significant implications for consumer behavior in financial markets as it helps to explain phenomena such as the disposition effect, where investors hold onto losing stocks too long while selling winning stocks too quickly. The theory’s focus on loss aversion suggests that investors fear realizing losses more than they seek to capitalize on gains, leading to suboptimal investment decisions. Additionally, it highlights how marketing strategies can leverage consumers' perception of risk and reward to influence purchasing behavior, underscoring the psychological factors at play in financial decision-making.