Speaker: Dr. Brett Hayes

Title: Trapped by Early Learning: Exploration, Attention and the Emergence of Learning Traps

Host: Manos Konstantinidis

Abstract: Learning traps arise where early experience leads to a false belief about the reward structure of the environment which, in turn, leads to avoidance of rewarding options. Such traps can lead to inefficient learning, poor economic decisions and the development of negative social stereotypes. In this talk, I outline a program of research which aims to uncover the core cognitive mechanisms that underpin the emergence and persistence of learning traps. Our work examines some of the negative consequences of traps, such as blindness to change in decision-making environments. Finally, we show how an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie trap formation can inform approaches for remediating the negative effects of learning traps.