Using [1_TD$DIFF]a Foreign Language Changes Our Choices

In some contexts, using a foreign language appears to improve decision-making, since it reduces various decision biases [1,2,4], such as loss aversion. This is consistent with the idea that reasoning in a foreign language is less affected by emotional concerns [6–10]. It is intuitive that optimal choices are those that are made with a cooler mindset and, to the extent that using a foreign language reduces emotional reactivity, it might lead to better choices. However, we propose that whether using a foreign language leads to better or worse decisions entirely depends on the type of problem that the user is trying to solve. In many cases, emotions can be helpful, such as by providing a quick evaluation of complex information and helping us learn from past mistakes. Therefore, when emotional reactions serve a beneficial function, such as when there is little time or few resources available to engage in careful deliberation, using a foreign language should lead to less optimal decisions. Future research could explore the factors that determine when using a foreign language leads to better decisions and when it makes them worse. Forum Using [1_TD$DIFF]a Foreign Language Changes Our Choices Sayuri Hayakawa,* Albert Costa, Alice Foucart, and Boaz Keysar