The first price leaves a trace.
Judgment can remain influenced by an initial value even when better evidence is available. This demonstration makes the adjustment rule visible; it does not measure your susceptibility.
Inside this model
Comparable items have a fixed evidence-based estimate of 80 units. The toy estimate is anchor + adjustment × (80 − anchor). At full adjustment the anchor has no effect; at zero adjustment the estimate equals the asking price.
Out in the world
A practical use
When evaluating a used bicycle, gather comparable sales before considering the seller's asking price. This gives your estimate an independent starting point.
A useful lens. Not a universal law.
- A linear adjustment rule is an illustration, not a fitted psychological law. Some anchors contain useful information and responses differ across people and contexts.
Associated thinkers
Further reading
Explore the original research or the teaching reference behind this experiment.
Tversky & Kahneman — Judgment under uncertainty (1974) ↗