MBS 94-15
The Anthropic Principle in Psychology and Human Choice
Vladimir A. Lefebvre
The anthropic principle is used in cosmology for selecting initial
conditions in the models of Universum. Its essence is expressed in the
phrase: "What we expect to observe must be restricted by the conditions
necessary for our presence as observers" (Carter, 1974). In this work we
attempt to demonstrate that a similar methodological gambit can be used
in psychology. We begin with the proposition: "We have free will and under
certain circumstances freedom of choice as well." Then based on this proposition
we construct a formal theory and establish its relations to other choice
theories. The next step is to use the theory to offer an explanation of
non-linear connection between magnitude and categorical evaluations of
the same stimuli. After that we formulate the theory's prediction on existence
of the phenomenon of golden section in the categorization of stimuli which
do not have measurable magnitudes. In conclusion, it is shown that the
theory allows us to establish a link between a subject's behavior and inner
state during the process of making a choice.