General Game Playing (GGP) deals with the design of players that are able to play any discrete, deterministic, complete information games. For many games like chess, designers develop a player using a specially designed algorithm and tune all the features of the algorithm to play the game as good as possible. However, a general game player knows nothing about the game that is about to be played. When the game begins, game description is given to the players and they should analyze it and decide on the best way to play the game. In this thesis, we focus on two-player constant-sum simultaneous move games in GGP and how this class of games can be handled. Rock-paper-scissors can be considered as a typical example of a simultaneous move game. We introduce the CFR algorithm to the GGP community for the first time and show its effectiveness in playing simultaneous move games. This is the first implementation of CFR outside the poker world. We also improve the UCT algorithm, which is the state of the art in GGP, to be more robust in simultaneous move games. In addition, we analyze how UCT performs in simultaneous move games and argue that it does not converge to a Nash equilibrium. We also compare the usage of UCT and CFR in this class of games. Finally, we discuss about the importance of opponent modeling and how a model of the opponent can be exploited by using CFR.

L'objectif général de cette thèse est (i) d'examiner l'influence du contexte socio-émotionnel sur la prise de décision à risque, chez l'enfant, l'adolescent et l'adulte (ii) et de s'interroger sur la dynamique développementale des Types 1 (heuristique) et 2 (analytique) de raisonnement envisagés par les théories du double processus et de leur articulation avec la Prospect Theory. Selon nous, cette articulation permettra de mieux rendre compte de l'influence des émotions sur la sensibilité aux gains et aux pertes dans la prise de décision. Dans ce contexte, nous avons d'abord examiné l'influence d'un contexte émotionnel incident sur la sensibilité à un biais décisionnel classique, l'effet du cadre de présentation, chez l'adulte. Nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence du contexte émotionnel du point de vue de sa valence (positive ou négative), avant d'étudier l'influence d'émotions spécifiques (la colère et la peur). Sur le plan de la valence, nos résultats mettent en évidence l'influence des émotions positives dans la disparition de l'effet du cadre, à travers la réduction de l'aversion aux pertes. Les émotions plus spécifiques ont une influence différenciée sur la prise de risque, la peur tendant à l'augmenter, tandis que la colère tend à la réduire. Puis, nous avons étudié l'influence d'émotions positives sur la sensibilité à l'effet du cadre à l'adolescence, période critique en termes de prise de risque. La sensibilité à l'effet du cadre varie en fonction des sommes en jeu, ce qui conduit à une influence différenciée du contexte émotionnel selon cet enjeu. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés au développement de deux émotions intégrales au processus de prise de décision, dites également contrefactuelles (le regret et le soulagement) et à leur influence sur la volonté de reconsidérer un choix. Pour ce faire, nous avons élaboré une tâche de prise de décision induisant du regret ou du soulagement et nous avons mis en évidence un développement progressif du ressenti de ces émotions et de la capacité à les prendre en compte lors de la reconsidération d'un choix antérieur. Enfin, nous avons étudié le développement du regret social et du soulagement social de l'enfance à l'âge adulte, à travers un paradigme de compétition avec un pair. Le contexte de compétition semble biaiser l'évaluation rationnelle du regret et du soulagement à l'adolescence, certaines situations étant perçues comme plus désirables par rapport à un contexte de jeu individuel. Ces résultats sont discutés en lien avec la Prospect Theory, puisque la sensibilité aux gains et aux pertes semble modulée de façon distincte, à différents stades du développement, par le contexte émotionnel.

This research has identified elements of the social memory of librarianship from the last half of the twentieth century by collecting and examining thirty-four oral history interviews of librarians at the end of their careers. These professional life stories trace an important arc through the history of library and information science. Many of these librarians began their careers prior to the use of any form of computer technology in libraries. This cohort ushered in a wave of technological innovations that has revolutionized the access to information. These oral history interviews are part of the Capturing Our Stories Oral History Program of Retiring/Retired Librarians sponsored by the American Library Association and the School of Information at the University of Texas. The social memory includes regret and nostalgia for the librarianship practiced at the beginning of their careers, excitement and wonder about how technology has fundamentally changed the profession, and perspectives on the popular stereotype associated with their careers. / text

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Although IS studies have begun to recognize the role of emotion in decision making, the research in this area is still in its infancy. The exploration of IS decision making phenomena through the lens of regret can offer rich implications to both research and practice. The presence of regret, for instance, can explain how and why IS decision makers choose a certain option. Motivated by the gap in the literature, the three papers in this dissertation investigate the role of regret in decision making in IS contexts. Specifically, the three projects investigate the following: IT real options decision in the context of RFID investment in libraries, whistle-blowing decision in the context of violations of heath information privacy, and process documentation decision in the context of investment in process improvement initiatives in an IT project. The contributions and implications of the three studies are presented further.

There are many idiosyncrasies in the emotion of regret that we do not fully comprehend and our traditional reliance on economic theories of human decision-making, which view regret as stemming from illogical and explicit decision-making processes, may be the cause. This thesis explores the development and testing of the Dual Process Theory of Regret (DPTR) which claims that individuals use both implicit ‘orientation’ and explicit ‘justification’ systems of thought to guide their daily decision-making and the differential use of these systems should be reflected in the intensity of regret felt for a poor outcome. To assess its utility in predicting variation in regret intensity the DPTR was tested in conjunction with two popular theories of regret; one focussing on the distinction between actions and inaction, and the other focussing on decision justification. Three thousand adults were randomly selected from the New Zealand electoral roll and invited to participate in a postal survey of short and long-term life regrets. Of this initial sample 653 participants returned questionnaires with usable data, a response rate of approximately 23% which, while a relatively low response rate, was expected given the sensitive topic and provided more than enough respondents for the present analysis. Results showed that the DPTR had greater utility in predicting trends in short and long-term regret intensity than either of the current regret theories. Results also illustrated that changes in justification strength had little effect on regret intensity and that explicit justifications only influenced regret in the long-term. In contrast results supported the conceptualisation of the implicit orientation and showed that it was a key source of influence on regret intensity in both the short and long-term. This research concludes that the DPTR’s focus on both implicit and explicit cognitive systems provides greater insight into the nature of regret than the reliance on explicit cognitive analysis alone. Implicit feelings of right and wrong are a better indicator of eventual regret than our ability to justify our decision. These results help resolve past anomalies in regret research, clarify conflicting trends in regret highlighted in the current media, and have application for understanding criminal recidivism.

There are many idiosyncrasies in the emotion of regret that we do not fully comprehend and our traditional reliance on economic theories of human decision-making, which view regret as stemming from illogical and explicit decision-making processes, may be the cause. This thesis explores the development and testing of the Dual Process Theory of Regret (DPTR) which claims that individuals use both implicit ‘orientation’ and explicit ‘justification’ systems of thought to guide their daily decision-making and the differential use of these systems should be reflected in the intensity of regret felt for a poor outcome. To assess its utility in predicting variation in regret intensity the DPTR was tested in conjunction with two popular theories of regret; one focussing on the distinction between actions and inaction, and the other focussing on decision justification. Three thousand adults were randomly selected from the New Zealand electoral roll and invited to participate in a postal survey of short and long-term life regrets. Of this initial sample 653 participants returned questionnaires with usable data, a response rate of approximately 23% which, while a relatively low response rate, was expected given the sensitive topic and provided more than enough respondents for the present analysis. Results showed that the DPTR had greater utility in predicting trends in short and long-term regret intensity than either of the current regret theories. Results also illustrated that changes in justification strength had little effect on regret intensity and that explicit justifications only influenced regret in the long-term. In contrast results supported the conceptualisation of the implicit orientation and showed that it was a key source of influence on regret intensity in both the short and long-term. This research concludes that the DPTR’s focus on both implicit and explicit cognitive systems provides greater insight into the nature of regret than the reliance on explicit cognitive analysis alone. Implicit feelings of right and wrong are a better indicator of eventual regret than our ability to justify our decision. These results help resolve past anomalies in regret research, clarify conflicting trends in regret highlighted in the current media, and have application for understanding criminal recidivism.

abstract: In the present research, two interventions were developed to increase sun protection in young women. The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of intervention content eliciting strong emotional responses to visual images depicting photoaging and skin cancer, specifically fear and disgust, coupled with a message of self-efficacy and benefits of sun protection (the F intervention) with an intervention that did not contain an emotional arousal component (the E intervention). Further, these two intervention conditions were compared to a control condition that contained an emotional arousal component that elicited emotion unrelated to the threat of skin cancer or photoaging (the C control condition). A longitudinal study design was employed, to examine the effects of condition immediately following the intervention, and to examine sun protection behavior 2 weeks after the intervention. A total of 352 undergraduate women at Arizona State University were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions (F n = 148, E n = 73, C n = 131). Several psychosocial constructs, including benefits of sun protection, susceptibility to and severity of photoaging and sun exposure, self-efficacy beliefs of making sun protection a daily habit, and barriers to sun protection were measured before and immediately following the intervention. Sun protection behavior was measured two weeks later. Those in the full intervention reported higher self-efficacy and severity of photoaging at immediate posttest than those in the efficacy only and control conditions. The fit of several path models was tested to explore underlying mechanisms by which the intervention affected sun protection behavior. Experienced emotion, specifically fear and disgust, predicted susceptibility and severity, which in turn predicted anticipated regret of failing to use sun protection. The relationship between this overall threat component (experienced emotion, susceptibility, severity, and anticipated regret) and intentions to engage in sun protection behavior was mediated by benefits. The present research provided evidence of the effectiveness of threat specific emotional arousal coupled with a self-efficacy and benefits message in interventions to increase sun protection. Further, this research provided additional support for the inclusion of both experienced and anticipated emotion in models of health behavior. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Psychology 2011

O arrependimento é uma emoção negativa comum no cotidiano do ser humano. A busca pela redução desse sentimento foi objeto de diversos estudos da área comportamental. Uma situação em que o consumidor escolheu um prestador de serviço e não obteve o resultado desejado, devido a falhas ocorridas, gera arrependimento tanto para satisficers como para maximizadores. Para que haja redução nesse arrependimento, as empresas podem oferecer uma compensação financeira. Nesse viés, a presente pesquisa analisa como a interação entre a tendência à maximização do consumidor – a qual consiste na sua disposição em obter o melhor resultado possível e não apenas um resultado suficientemente bom – e a compensação financeira oferecida pela empresa devido a uma falha na prestação de serviço impacta no arrependimento do consumidor com a decisão tomada. Através de sete experimentos, é demonstrado que: 1) em casos de compensação parcial (i.e., 50% de desconto), satisficers indicam redução no seu nível de arrependimento em comparação a situações em que não há compensação. No entanto, os satisficers possuem níveis semelhantes de arrependimento ao receberem compensação parcial ou total (i.e., 100% de desconto). Já para maximizadores, uma compensação parcial gera redução no arrependimento, se comparada à situação sem compensação; entretanto, um nível ainda menor de arrependimento é percebido após compensação total. Percebe-se que, para maximizadores, ao aumentar a compensação, há redução no nível de arrependimento, enquanto que para satisficers uma compensação parcial já é suficiente para reduzir essa emoção. 2) O impacto da tendência à maximização e da compensação no arrependimento gera consequências na intenção de recompra, boca a boca online positivo e confiança do consumidor. Assim, quanto menor o nível de arrependimento, maior a intenção de recompra, boca a boca online positivo e confiança do consumidor no prestador de serviço. Dessa forma, ao gerenciar eventuais falhas em situação de consumo, uma empresa é capaz de gerar impacto positivo tanto para o consumidor (através da redução de sua emoção negativa), quanto para a própria empresa (por meio de variáveis comportamentais e confiança na organização). 3) Os resultados são consistentes entre as duas formas de abordagem da tendência à maximização utilizadas; isto é, estado mental gerado por fatores situacionais e traço individual – medido pelas escalas de Diab et al. (2008) e Schwartz et al. (2002). Além disso, foram utilizados dois contextos de serviços: restaurante e turismo. Esta pesquisa destaca-se, também, pela investigação do arrependimento em uma situação de recuperação de prestação de serviço. Embora o arrependimento seja uma emoção vastamente estudada, devido ao seu significativo impacto e intensidade na vida das pessoas, estudos visando a reduzir essa emoção em situação de falhas são insuficientes. Logo, esta é uma das contribuições da pesquisa realizada. / Regret is a common negative emotion in everyday life. Past studies have focused on how to reduce this negative emotion. For instance, situations in which the consumer has chosen a service provider and, due to its failures, did not get the desired outcome, generate regret for both satisficers and maximizers. In order to reduce regret, companies may offer financial compensations to their customers. This study focuses on the impact of the interaction between the consumer’s maximizing tendency (which consists in the willingness to be a satisficer or a maximizer while decision making) and the financial compensation offered by the company (due to a failure in service delivery) on consumer’s regret. Results of the seven experiments conducted demonstrate that: 1) in situations where there is partial compensation (i.e., 50% discount), satisficers indicate reduction in their level of regret when compared to a situation where there is no compensation (i.e., 0% discount). However, satisficers have similar levels of regret when they receive either partial or total compensation (i.e., 100% discount). To maximizers, on the other hand, even though a partial compensation generates a reduction in regret if compared to a situation without any compensation, a far lower level of regret is perceived when a total compensation (i.e., 100% compensation) is offered. It may be realized that, for maximizers, regret is reduced by increasing the compensation, whereas for satisficers a partial compensation is enough to reduce this negative emotion. 2) The impact of the maximizing tendency and compensation on regret generates consequences on repurchase intention, online word of mouth and trust. As the level of regret decreases, repurchase intention, online word of mouth and consumer’s trust in the service provider increase. Thus, when managing failures in a situation of consumption, companies may generate a positive impact both for the consumer (by reducing their negative emotion) and to the company (regarding behavioral variables and trust in the organization). 3) These results are consistent between both approaches of maximizing tendencies used; which is to say, state of mind generated by situational factors and individual traits – measured by the scales of Diab et al. (2008) and Schwartz et al. (2002). Besides that, the research used two different service providers: restaurant and tourism agency. This study differentiates from others by studying regret in a situation of recovering from service failure. Although regret is a vastly studied emotion, due to its significant impact and intensity in people’s lives, studies that aim at analyzing this emotion in a negative failure situation are insufficient, which makes this one of the contributions of this research.