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Critical Review
A Journal of Politics and Society
Volume 9, 1995 - Issue 1-2: RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY AND POLITICS
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Symposium on Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory

The secret existence of expressive behavior

Pages 25-36 | Published online: 06 Mar 2008
 

Abstract

The rational choice assumption that any chosen behavior can be understood as optimizing material self‐interest is not borne out by psychological research. Expressive motives, for example, are prominent in the symbols of politics, in social relationships, and in the arts of persuasion. Moreover, instrumentality is a mindset that is learned (perhaps overlearned), and can be situationally manipulated; because it is valued in our society, it provides a privileged vocabulary for justifying behaviors that may have been performed for other reasons, and encourages the illusory belief in the universality of rational choice.

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