Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

A Theory of Medical Decision Making and Health

Fuzzy Trace Theory

Bibliographic Data

ID23344142
AuthorsValerie F Reyna (0000-0003-2851-5797, Departments of Human Development and Psychology, CornellUniversity, Ithaca, New York, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume28
Issue6
Pages850-865
Publication date2008-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Decision Making (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-989X • E-ISSN: 1552-681X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0272989x08327066
PMID19015287
PMCIDPMC2617718
OpenAlexW2136995860
LanguageEN
Citations received71
References cited63

The tenets of fuzzy trace theory are summarized with respect to their relevance to health and medical decision making. Illustrations are given for HIV prevention, cardiovascular disease, surgical risk, genetic risk, and cancer prevention and control. A core idea of fuzzy trace theory is that people rely on the gist of information, its bottom-line meaning, as opposed to verbatim details in judgment and decision making. This idea explains why precise information (e.g., about risk) is not necessarily effective in encouraging prevention behaviors or in supporting medical decision making. People can get the facts right, and still not derive the proper meaning, which is key to informed decision making. Getting the gist is not sufficient, however. Retrieval (e.g., of health-related values) and processing interference brought on by thinking about nested or overlapping classes (e.g., in ratio concepts, such as probability) are also important. Theory-based interventions that work (and why they work) are presented, ranging from specific techniques aimed at enhancing representation, retrieval, and processing to a comprehensive intervention that integrates these components.

Decision theory · Fuzzy logic · Knowledge management · Management science · Meaning (existential) · Psychotherapist · Relevance (law) · Risk analysis (engineering) · TRACE (psycholinguistics) · Artificial Intelligence · Bayesian Modeling and Causal Inference · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Computer Science · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Mathematics · Medicine · Psychology

  • Decision making on family level in having treatment

    Open Access•Deviarbi Sakke Tira•International Journal of Health…•2019

  • Effective Ways to Communicate Risk and Benefit

    Open Access•Evan A Wilhelms, Valerie F Reyna•The AMA Journal of Ethic•2013

  • Discounting a Surgical Risk

    Open Access•Peter H Schwartz•The AMA Journal of Ethic•2012

  • The gist of juries

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Valerie P Hans et al.•Psychology Public Policy and Law•2015

  • Endorsement of a personal responsibility to adhere to the minimum drinking age law predicts consumption, risky behaviors, and alcohol-related harms

    Valerie F Reyna, Katherine F Croom et al.•Psychology Public Policy and Law•2013

  • Current theories of risk and rational decision making

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Susan E Rivers•Developmental Review•2008

  • Dual processes in decision making and developmental neuroscience

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Charles J Brainerd•Developmental Review•2011

  • Risk taking under the influence

    Open Access•Susan E Rivers, Valerie F Reyna et al.•Developmental Review•2008

  • Children’s competence or adults’ incompetence

    Sarah Furlan, Franca Agnoli et al.•Developmental Psychology•2013

  • Less harmful’? Exploring reactions to quantitative modified risk claims for snus and e-cigarettes

    Olivia A Wackowski, Richard J O’connor et al.•Tobacco Control•2021

  • Theoretical Foundations for Health Communication Research and Practice

    Open Access•Daniel Morrow, Daniel G Morrow et al.•Human Computer Interaction in…•2024

  • Is Adolescence a Sensitive Period for Sociocultural Processing?

    Sarah‐jayne Blakemore, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore et al.•Annual Review of Psychology•2014

  • Varieties of Uncertainty in Health Care

    Open Access•Paul K J Han, William M P Klein et al.•Medical Decision Making•2011

  • Opportunities and challenges of Web 2.0 for vaccination decisions

    Open Access•Cornelia Betsch, Noel T Brewer et al.•Vaccine•2012

  • Risk Perception and Protective Behaviors During the Rise of the Covid-19 Outbreak in Italy

    Open Access•Lucia Savadori, Marco Lauriola•Frontiers in Psychology•2021

  • Increasing Vaccination

    Open Access•Noel T Brewer, Gretchen B Chapman et al.•Psychological Science in the…•2017

  • Relevant dimensions to give meaning to pension decisions

    Open Access•Jelle Strikwerda, Bregje Holleman et al.•Work Aging and Retirement•2024

  • Consumer manipulation – a definition, classification and future research agenda

    Open Access•Janis Witte•Journal of Information…•2024

  • Laypersons’ beliefs and knowledge about human memory

    Charlie Whitfield, Suzanne Blackwell et al.•Psychiatry, Psychology and Law•2026

  • Human behavior in the context of low-probability high-impact events

    Open Access•Joakim Sundh•Humanities and Social Sciences…•2024

  • Using behavioural science to design public health social media campaigns

    Open Access•Simon Williams, Karin Stein et al.•BMJ Global Health•2025

  • Leveraging Math Cognition to Combat Health Innumeracy

    Open Access•Cynthia A Thompson, Marta K Mielicki et al.•Perspectives on Psychological…•2023

  • An overview of the quantum cognition research program

    Open Access•Jiaqi Huang, Jia‐Qi Huang et al.•Psychonomic Bulletin & Review•2025

  • Temporal Bell inequalities in cognition

    Open Access•Oliver J Waddup, James M Yearsley et al.•Psychonomic Bulletin & Review•2023

  • Processing mode and processing contents in older and younger adults’ sunk cost decision-making

    Open Access•Qichen HUAI, Xueping Liu et al.•Current Psychology•2023

  • Advancing Visual Health Communication Research to Improve Infodemic Response

    Andrew J King, Allison J Lazard•Health Communication•2020

  • Communicating Probabilities of Cervical Cancer Screening Results with Icon Arrays or Tree Diagrams

    Yasmina Okan, Eric R Stone et al.•Health Communication•2025

  • Gist Inference Scores Predict Cloze Comprehension “In Your Own Words” for Native, Not ESL Readers

    Christopher R Wolfe, Mitchell Dandignac et al.•Health Communication•2022

  • Assessing the Impact of Visualizations of Quantitative and Qualitative Risk Information on the Comprehension of Hypothetical Risk-Based Breast Cancer Screening Results

    Open Access•Inge S van Strien‐Knippenberg, Danielle R M Timmermans et al.•Health Communication•2025

  • Straight from the horse’s mouth

    Wylie Brace, Christopher R Wolfe•Journal of Applied Communication…•2024

  • Perceptions, Experiences, and Needs of Adolescents About School-Based Sexual Health Education

    Open Access•Shefaly Shorey, Crystal Min Siu Chua•Archives of Sexual Behavior•2023

  • Uncertain futures

    Simon J Craddock Lee•Health Risk & Society•2010

  • Comprehension of Graphs and Tables Depend on the Task

    Matthias Schonlau, Ellen Peters•Statistics Politics and Policy•2012

  • Framing a Consent Form to Improve Consent Understanding and Determine How This Affects Willingness to Participate in HIV Cure Research

    Open Access•John A Sauceda, Karine Dubé et al.•Journal of Empirical Research on…•2020

  • Learning the dangers of storm surges in virtual reality

    Alexandra L Frank, Joshua Baldwin et al.•Environmental Education Research•2025

  • Integrating complexity in the management of human-wildlife encounters

    Open Access•Kim A Jochum, Andrew “anaru” Kliskey et al.•Global Environmental Change•2014

  • The Gist of Delay of Gratification

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Evan A Wilhelms•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2016

  • Salience Versus Proportional Reasoning

    Open Access•Eric R Stone, Emily C Reeder et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2018

  • Distinguishing the Ratio Bias from Unsystematic Error

    Open Access•Eric R Stone, Andrew M Parker et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2018

  • Individual Differences in Numeracy and Cognitive Reflection, with Implications for Biases and Fallacies in Probability Judgment

    Open Access•Jordana M Liberali, Valerie F Reyna et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2011

  • On Judgments of Approximately Equal

    Open Access•Christopher R Wolfe, Valerie F Reyna et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2017

  • Effects of Descriptive Information on Mental Representations of Probability and Future Behavior in the Context of Personal Experience

    Open Access•Bridget B Hayes, Eric R Stone•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2025

  • Socioeconomic status and concussion reporting

    Open Access•Peter T Ajayi, David M N Garavito et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2021

  • How representations of number and numeracy predict decision paradoxes

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Priscila G Brust-Renck•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2020

  • Age differences in financial decision making

    Open Access•Wiebke Eberhardt, W Bruine De Bruin et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2018

  • Contribution of rationality to vaccine attitudes

    Open Access•Helena Tomljenović, Andreja Bubic et al.•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2021

  • Discourse gist

    Open Access•B Chapman, Sandra B Chapman et al.•Discourse Studies•2013

  • Predictors of PrEP Uptake Among Patients with Equivalent Access

    Open Access•Sarit A Golub, Rachel A Fikslin et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2019

  • The Importance of Sexual History Taking for PrEP Comprehension Among Young People of Color

    Open Access•Sarit A Golub, Kristi E Gamarel et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2016

  • Framing Biases in Plea Bargaining Decisions

    Open Access•Christopher R Wolfe•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2025

  • Cognitive Theories, Paradigm of Quantum Behavior Change, and Cusp Catastrophe Modeling in Social Behavioral Research

    Open Access•Xinguang Chen, Ding‐Geng Chen•Journal of the Society for Social…•2019

  • Women from minoritised ethnicities’ perception of cervical screening information leaflets in the UK

    Tanishia Gibbs, Madeleine Tremblett•QMiP Bulletin•2025

  • Testing the effects on information use by older versus younger women of modality and narration style in a hospital report card

    Open Access•Nida Gizem Yılmaz, Danielle R M Timmermans et al.•Health Expectations•2022

  • Informed choice in bowel cancer screening

    Open Access•Sian K Smith, Paul Kearney et al.•Health Expectations•2014

  • Valued life abilities among veteran cancer survivors

    Open Access•Michele J Karel, Elizabeth A Mulligan et al.•Health Expectations•2016

  • Reconciling the theory and reality of shared decision‐making

    Open Access•Stephen L Brown, Pierre Salmon et al.•Health Expectations•2019

  • ‘A good decision is the one that feels right for me’

    Open Access•Kelly Kohut, Katherine Morton et al.•Health Expectations•2024

  • How do people interpret information about colorectal cancer screening

    Open Access•Samuel G Smith, Gemma Vart et al.•Health Expectations•2015

  • Early childhood adversity and Women’s sexual behavior

    Open Access•Jenna Alley, Lisa M Diamond•Developmental Review•2021

  • How fuzzy-trace theory predicts development of risky decision making, with novel extensions to culture and reward sensitivity

    Open Access•Sarah M Edelson, Valerie F Reyna•Developmental Review•2021

  • Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Brief Online Sexual Health Program for Adolescents

    Laura Widman, Kristyn Kamke et al.•The Journal of Sex Research•2019

  • Preserving the Self

    Open Access•A Fuchsia Howard, Lynda G Balneaves et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2011

  • How do people understand overtesting and overdiagnosis? Systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research

    Open Access•Tomas Rozbroj, Romi Haas et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2021

  • Pumps and Prompts for Gist Explanations in Tutorial Dialogues About Breast Cancer

    Christopher R Wolfe, Valerie F Reyna et al.•Discourse Processes•2018

  • Misperception of Multiple Risks in Medical Decision-Making

    Open Access•Mehdi Mourali, Zhiyong Yang et al.•Journal of Consumer Research•2023

  • To Prescribe or Not to Prescribe? Consumer Access to Life-Enhancing Products

    Detelina Marinova, Irina V Kozlenkova et al.•Journal of Consumer Research•2016

  • Why Debunking Misinformation Is Not Enough to Change People’s Minds About Vaccines

    Heidi J Larson, David Broniatowski et al.•American Journal of Public Health•2021

  • Sexual Assertiveness Skills and Sexual Decision-Making in Adolescent Girls

    Laura Widman, Carol E Golin et al.•American Journal of Public Health•2018

  • Facebook Pages, the “Disneyland” Measles Outbreak, and Promotion of Vaccine Refusal as a Civil Right, 2009–2019

    David Broniatowski, David A Broniatowski et al.•American Journal of Public Health•2020

  • Theory-informed design of values clarification methods

    Open Access•Arwen H Pieterse, Marieke De Vries et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2013

  • Patient Decision Making Among Older Individuals With Cancer

    Open Access•Fay J Strohschein, Howard Bergman et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2011

  • Fuzzy-trace theory

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Charles J Brainerd•Learning and Individual Differences•1995

  • Extensional versus intuitive reasoning

    Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman•Psychological Review•1983

  • Rational Choice and the Framing of Decisions

    Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman•The Journal of Business•1986

  • Design Features of Graphs in Health Risk Communication

    J S Ancker, Y Senathirajah et al.•Journal of the American Medical…•2006

  • Frames, Biases, and Rational Decision-Making in the Human Brain

    Open Access•Benedetto De Martino, Dharshan Kumaran et al.•Science•2006

  • Risk and Rationality in Adolescent Decision Making

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Frank H Farley et al.•Psychological Science in the…•2006

  • A Reasoned Action Approach to Health Promotion

    Open Access•Martin Fishbein•Medical Decision Making•2008

  • Numeracy and Decision Making

    Open Access•Ellen Peters, Daniel Västfjäll et al.•Psychological Science•2006

  • How People Make Decisions That Involve Risk

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna•Current Directions in Psychological…•2004

  • Numeracy, ratio bias, and denominator neglect in judgments of risk and probability

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Charles J Brainerd•Learning and Individual Differences•2008

  • On the Elicitation of Preferences for Alternative Therapies

    Barbara J Mcneil, Stephen G Pauker et al.•New England Journal of Medicine•1982

  • The Framing of Decisions and the Psychology of Choice

    Open Access•Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman•Science•1981

  • Human Learning and Memory

    Chizuko Izawa, Nobuo Ohta•Human Learning and Memory :…•2014

  • Class inclusion, the conjunction fallacy, and other cognitive illusions

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna•Developmental Review•1991

  • Current theories of risk and rational decision making

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Susan E Rivers•Developmental Review•2008

  • Inclusion illusions

    Open Access•Charles J Brainerd, Valerie F Reyna•Developmental Review•1990

  • Risk taking under the influence

    Open Access•Susan E Rivers, Valerie F Reyna et al.•Developmental Review•2008

  • Development of Long-Term Retention

    Open Access•Mark L Howe, Charles J Brainerd et al.•Development of Long-Term Retention•1992

  • Coherence and correspondence criteria for rationality

    Open Access•Mary B Adam, Valerie F Reyna•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•2005

  • Fuzzy‐trace theory and framing effects in choice

    Open Access•Valerie F Reyna, Charles J Brainerd•Journal of Behavioral Decision…•1991

  • Context and the interpretation of likelihood information

    Paul D Windschitl, René Martin et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•2002

  • Cognitive Reflection and Decision Making

    Open Access•Shane Frederick•The Journal of Economic…•2005

Unique citing works71
Citations per year3,94
Citation span2008 - 2026 (19)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 62
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae