Heuristics and Biases at the Bargaining Table

9 Pages Posted: 17 Mar 2004

See all articles by Russell B. Korobkin

Russell B. Korobkin

UCLA School of Law

Chris Guthrie

Vanderbilt University - Law School

Abstract

In this essay, written for a symposium on The Emerging Interdisciplinary Cannon of Negotiation, we examine the role of heuristics in negotiation from two vantage points. First, we identify the way in which some common heuristics are likely to influence the negotiator's decision-making processes. Namely, we discuss anchoring and adjustment, availability, self-serving evaluations, framing, the status quo bias, contrast effects, and reactive devaluation. Understanding these common heuristics and how they can cause negotiators' judgments and choices to deviate from the normative model can enable negotiators to reorient their behavior so it more closely aligns with the normative model or, alternatively, make an informed choice to take advantage of the effort-conserving features of heuristics at the cost of the increased precision that the normative approach offers. Second, we explore how negotiators might capitalize on the knowledge that their counterparts are likely to rely on heuristics in their decision-making processes. We consider, in other words, how negotiators can exploit heuristic reasoning on the part of others for personal gain.

Keywords: Heuristics, Negotiation

Suggested Citation

Korobkin, Russell B. and Guthrie, Chris, Heuristics and Biases at the Bargaining Table. Marquette Law Review, Vol. 87, p. 795-808, 2004, Vanderbilt Law and Economics Research Paper No. 04-11, UCLA School of Law, Law-Econ Research Paper No. 04/5, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=513142 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.513142

Russell B. Korobkin (Contact Author)

UCLA School of Law ( email )

385 Charles E. Young Dr. East
Room 1242
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1476
United States
310-825-1994 (Phone)
310-206-7010 (Fax)

Chris Guthrie

Vanderbilt University - Law School ( email )

131 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203-1181
United States
615-322-6823 (Phone)
615-322-6631 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
1,642
Abstract Views
8,423
Rank
20,187
PlumX Metrics