Question53 Delay discounting refers to the ___ in value of a ___ as the delay to its occurrence increases. Decrease; Reward Decrease; Punisher Increase; Reward Increase; Punisher ResetMaximum marks: 1 Flag question undefined单项选择题
A
Decrease; Reward
B
Decrease; Punisher
C
Increase; Reward
D
Increase; Punisher

Question

Question53 Delay discounting refers to the _ in value of a _ as the delay to its occurrence increases. Decrease; Reward Decrease; Punisher Increase; Reward Increase; Punisher ResetMaximum marks: 1 Flag question undefined单项选择题

A

Decrease; Reward

B

Decrease; Punisher

C

Increase; Reward

D

Increase; Punisher

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Delay discounting is the decrease in the subjective value of a reward as the delay to its receipt increases.

Relevant concepts: subjective value, temporal delay, and discounting functions. Behavioral economics and psychology model this with a discount function (commonly hyperbolic): V = A / (1 + kD), where V is the present value, A the reward amount, D the delay, and k the individual discount rate. This formalizes how value changes with delay.

Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Start with the hyperbolic model: V = A / (1 + kD).  
2. Let A = 100 and k = 0.01 to illustrate.  
   - If D = 0, V = 100 / (1 + 0) = 100.  
   - If D = 10, V = 100 / (1 + 0.1) = 100 / 1.1 ≈ 90.91.  
   - If D = 50, V = 100 / (1 + 0.5) = 100 / 1.5 ≈ 66.67.  
   These calculations show that as delay D increases, V decreases — the reward’s present value falls with longer delay.
3. The term “discounting” therefore denotes a decrease (not an increase) in value. The canonical subject of delay discounting research is rewards (e.g., money, food), examining choices between smaller-sooner versus larger-later rewards.

Why the correct answer is correct: the phrase that best matches the standard definition is “Decrease; Reward” — value decreases and the concept is applied to rewards.

Why the other options are incorrect:
- “Decrease; Punisher”: although delay can alter the impact of punishers, the standard definition of delay discounting refers to rewards, not punishers.  
- “Increase; Reward” and “Increase; Punisher”: these contradict the established empirical and theoretical result that subjective value declines with delay (not increases).