# Human behaviour through a LENS: How Linguistic content triggers Emotions and Norms and determines Strategy choices

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.15293 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.15293/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 6 of its 54 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 22 Mar 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Crowdsourcing a Word-Emotion Association Lexicon](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1308.6297/) (2013)
- [Mathematical foundations of moral preferences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.08193/) (2021)
- [Language-based game theory in the age of artificial intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.08944/) (2024)
- [The power of moral words: Loaded language generates framing effects in the extreme dictator game](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1901.02314/) (2019)
- [From Outcome-Based to Language-Based Preferences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.07300/) (2022)
- [Playing with words: Do people exploit loaded language to affect others' decisions for their own benefit?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.03553/) (2021)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Over the last two decades, a growing body of experimental research has provided evidence that linguistic frames influence human behaviour in economic games, beyond the economic consequences of the available actions. This article proposes a novel framework that transcends the traditional confines of outcome-based preference models. According to the LENS model, the Linguistic description of the decision problem triggers Emotional responses and suggests potential Norms of behaviour, which then interact to shape an individual's Strategic choice. The article reviews experimental evidence that supports each path of the LENS model. Furthermore, it identifies and discusses several critical research questions that arise from this model, pointing towards avenues for future inquiry.