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Dread and the Disvalue of Future Pain

Figure 2

Observed time preference: Experiment 1.

Mean probability across participants (N = 25) of choosing the more delayed shock outcome (S2) over the sooner shock outcome (S1) [referred to as p(Choose S2)] as a function of difference in delay between delivery of S2 and S1 (D2 – D1), expressed in units of trials. Delay difference (D2 - D1) is binned into tertiles, corresponding to short (1–10 trials), medium (11–20 trials) and long (>20 trials) delay differences. A: choice probabilities for all choices. At delay difference of zero, S1 and S2 would occur at the same time-point; since there are equal numbers of trials in which S1>S2 as in which S2>S1, this plot is theoretically bounded to cross the probability axis at (Choose S2) = 0.5, represented by the blue and red square. Blue circles represent choice probabilities for the relief frame, red circles choice probabilities for the pain frame. Error bars represent one standard error from the between subject mean. A 2-way repeated ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of both frame [F(1,24) = 9.505; p = 0.005)] and delay [F(3,72) = 8.156; p = 0.002)], as well as a significant delay by frame interaction [F(3,72) = 4.169; p = 0.023)]. B: Choice probabilities for choices in which the more delayed option was a smaller number of shocks. At delay difference of zero, S1 and S2 would occur at the same time-point, under which circumstance it might be assumed that participants would show preference for the smaller number of shocks, denoted by the blue and red square.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003335.g002