What Is Arbitrary Coherence and How It Affects Healthcare Decision-Making?
Decision-making in healthcare is complex, often a function of many considerations such as cost, treatment efficacy, and patient preferences. However, there is yet another factor, often subtle yet important: arbitrary coherence. A psychological phenomenon that influences choice and thus has a bearing in substantial decision-making contexts such as healthcare. Arbitrary Coherence: How to Understand It? This is the idea wherein, as a particular price or value happens to stick in one's mind, it tends to influence further decisions, even when the initial value is arbitrary. In other words, we tend to make many of our judgments based on the first piece of information that we receive, even if that piece of information is wrong or irrelevant. This phenomenon, discovered by behavioural economists, has repercussions that extend beyond the field to domains such as healthcare. The Role of Arbitrary Coherence in Healthcare This idea can even influence treatment decisions in medical practice.