title: Set-fit effects in choice.
abstract: In 4 experiments, we investigate how the "fit" of an item with a set of similar items affects choice. We find that people have a notion of a set that "fits" together--one where all items are the same, or all items differ, on salient attributes. One consequence of this notion is that in addition to preferences over the set's individual items, choice reflects set-fit. This leads to predictable shifts in preferences, sometimes even resulting in people choosing normatively inferior options over superior ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology & TIBER, Tilburg University.
authors.forename: Ellen R K
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology & TIBER, Tilburg University.
authors.forename: Yoel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology & TIBER, Tilburg University.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeelenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003210:Concept Formation; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult