Role of Symmetry in Irrational Choice

TL;DR

This paper explores how symmetry, a key concept in physics, also influences human decision-making and cognition, suggesting it may be a fundamental aspect of our mental processes.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that symmetry plays a crucial role in irrational choices and demonstrates how to formalize this using mathematical group theory.

Findings

Symmetry influences human decision-making processes.

Mathematical group theory can operationalize symmetry in psychology.

Symmetry may be fundamental to human cognition and behavior.

Abstract

Symmetry is a fundamental concept in modern physics and other related sciences. Being such a powerful tool, almost all physical theories can be derived from symmetry, and the effectiveness of such an approach is astonishing. Since many physicists do not actually believe that symmetry is a fundamental feature of nature, it seems more likely it is a fundamental feature of human cognition. According to evolutionary psychologists, humans have a sensory bias for symmetry. The unconscious quest for symmetrical patterns has developed as a solution to specific adaptive problems related to survival and reproduction. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that some fundamental concepts in psychology and behavioral economics necessarily involve symmetry. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the role of symmetry in decision-making and to illustrate how it can be algebraically operationalized through the use of mathematical group theory.