Incentive Relativity (Problems in the Behavioural Sciences, Series Number 15)

Incentive relativity is the study of the disappointment and irritation shown by animals and humans when they fail to obtain an expected reward. This book provides a full account of the subject, focusing on animals' responses to the relative value of rewards. These relativity effects cause stress in animals but they may also inspire adaptation beneficial to survival. This text shows how animal research may lead to an understanding of individual differences in discernment and susceptibility to disappointment, and to an understanding of both the advantages and disadvantages of dissatisfaction.

Disappointment and recovery occur frequently in life; as does irritation regarding ones financial or economic state compared to others. Incentive relativity is the study of this phenomenon, and this book provides a full account of the subject. The book shows that animals also respond on the basis of the relative value of rewards and that these relativity effects are stressful, but that they may also be adaptive. The book demonstrates that animal research may lead to an understanding of individual differences in discernment and susceptibility to disappointment, and to their adaptive advantages, or disadvantages.