Quantum physics is perhaps the most successful scientific achievement in the history of theoretical science. It was created to explain puzzling facts that could not be interpreted using classical physical theory, and it did so by proposing an entirely new set of revolutionary concepts. The earlier classical physical theory is currently regarded as a subset of the more general quantum theory. In the process of constructing quantum mechanics, physicists created a new theory of probabilistic and dynamic systems that is more general than the previous classic theory. This book is not about quantum physics – it focuses on the application of the probabilistic dynamic system generated by quantum theory to a new field: cognition and legal decision-making. Almost all prior cognitive and decision science modelling relied on assumptions derived from classical probability dynamic systems. However, these fields have also encountered peculiar findings that are inexplicable within this limited framework. Quantum notions may provide some solutions. In this book, we examine the reasons why and show how these concepts can be applied to the fields of cognition and legal decision-making.
Quantum physics is perhaps the most successful scientific achievement in the history of theoretical science. It was created to explain puzzling facts that could not be interpreted using classical physical theory, and it did so by proposing an entirely new set of revolutionary concepts. The earlier classical physical theory is currently regarded as a subset of the more general quantum theory. In the process of constructing quantum mechanics, physicists created a new theory of probabilistic and dynamic systems that is more general than the previous classic theory. This book is not about quantum physics – it focuses on the application of the probabilistic dynamic system generated by quantum theory to a new field: cognition and legal decision-making. Almost all prior cognitive and decision science modelling relied on assumptions derived from classical probability dynamic systems. However, these fields have also encountered peculiar findings that are inexplicable within this limited framework. Quantum notions may provide some solutions. In this book, we examine the reasons why and show how these concepts can be applied to the fields of cognition and legal decision-making.
This book provides the first consideration of quantum principles in legal decision making. It shows how quantum probability theory can be applied to psychology and law to deepen our understanding of psychological and legal issues, suggesting a paradigm shift in the study of these areas. Written as an introduction to quantum probability theory for non-physicists, the book offers an accessible summary of how psychology can be applied to quantum phenomena for human decision making. It introduces psychologists and lawyers to fresh conceptual frameworks, including classical probability theory, classical statistics, data mining and quantum theory. Wojciechowski shows how quantum theory and concepts can be transferred to psychological research models, and can help to resolve previously unexplained psychological phenomena, influence scientific views, undermine traditional foundations of the legal system and result in the development of new research directions. Studies conducted by the author are used to show how problems facing legal decision making can be addressed in a completely new light with the application of quantum probability theory. This cutting-edge and innovative book will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers in the fields of forensic psychology and legal decision making, as well as legal professionals and legal scholars.
Why should you be interested in quantum theory applied to Cognition and decision? Perhaps you are a physicist who is curious whether or not quantum principles can be applied outside of physics. In fact, that is one purpose of this book. Perhaps you are a cognitive scientist who is interested in representing concepts by vectors in a multidimensional feature space. This is essentially the way quantum theory works too. Perhaps you are a decision scientist who is trying to understand how people make decisions under uncertainty. Quantum theory could provide some interesting new answers. Generally speaking, quantum theory is a new theory for constructing probabilistic and dynamic systems , and in this book we apply this new theory to topics in cognition and decision. Later in this chapter we will give some specific examples, but let us step back at this point and try to understand the more general principles that support a quantum approach to cognition and decision. Six reasons for a quantum approach to cognition and decision Quantum physics is arguably the most successful scientific theoretical achievement that humans have ever created. It was created to explain puzzling findings that were impossible to understand using the older classical physical theory, and it achieved this by introducing an entirely new set of revolutionary principles. The older classical physical theory is now seen as a special case of the more general quantum theory. In the process of creating quantum mechanics, physicists also created a new theory of probabilistic and dynamic systems that is more general than the previous classic theory (Pitowski, 1989).
Quantum probability theory provides a new formalism for constructing probabilistic and dynamic systems of cognition and decision. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce psychologists to this fascinating theory. This chapter is organized into six sections. First, some of the basic psychological principles supporting a quantum approach to cognition and decision are summarized; second, some notations and definitions needed to understand quantum probability theory are presented; third, a comparison of quantum and classical probability theories is presented; fourth, quantum probability theory is used to account for some paradoxical findings in the field of human probability judgments; fifth, a comparison of quantum and Markov dynamic theories is presented; and finally, a quantum dynamic model is used to account for some puzzling findings of decision-making research. The chapter concludes with a summary of advantages and disadvantages of a quantum probability theoretical framework for modeling cognition and decision.
Quantum mechanics is traditionally associated with microscopic systems; however, quantum concepts have also been successfully applied to a diverse range of macroscopic systems both within and outside of physics. This book describes how complex systems from a variety of fields can be modelled using quantum mechanical principles; from biology and ecology, to sociology and decision-making. The mathematical basis of these models is covered in detail, furnishing a self-contained and consistent approach. This book provides unique insight into the dynamics of these macroscopic systems and opens new interdisciplinary research frontiers. It will be an essential resource for students and researchers in applied mathematics or theoretical physics who are interested in applying quantum mechanics to dynamical systems in the social, biological or ecological sciences.
Quantum theory has inspired many new ideas for understanding Cognition and decision making. Given the nascent state of this field, many new challenges still remain. What are the strengths and unique contributions of these ideas? What are likely next steps in its development? How can it be applied to practical problems in cognitive science? Is this a rational or an irrational system of reasoning? What, if any, are its connections to neuroscience? Should the hard problem of consciousness be considered? These are questions that we try to address in this chapter, albeit at times in a limited way. We end with a debate with a fictitious skeptic (actually previous reviewers) of these ideas. Let us start by reviewing what we have covered so far. Contributions to cognition and decision We begin by summarizing the conclusions reached in previous chapters regarding the usefulness of quantum theory for modelling phenomena in cognition and decision. Chapter 1 provided some motivation and Chapter 2 provided a theoretical introduction to quantum theory. Chapter 3 presented a quantum model to account for question order effects on survey research. An exact and parameter-free test was derived from the model, which produced surprisingly accurate predictions for results obtained from three different large Gallup poll survey studies. Chapter 4 described a quantum model of probability judgments to account for findings that produce violations of classic probability theory, including conjunction and disjunction fallacies and order effects on inference.
Quantum Models of Cognition and Decision, Second Edition presents a fully updated and expanded version of this innovative and path-breaking text. It offers an accessible introduction to the intersection of quantum theory and cognitive science, covering new insights, modelling techniques, and applications for understanding human cognition and decision making. In it, Busemeyer and Bruza delve into such topics as the non-commutative nature of judgments, quantum interference as a general principle governing human decision making, contextuality in modelling human cognition, and thought-provoking speculation about what a quantum approach to cognition might reveal about the ultimate nature of the human mind. Additions include new material on measurement, open systems, and applications to computer science. Requiring no prior background in quantum physics, this book comes complete with a tutorial and fully worked-out applications in important areas of cognition and decision.