Humans are so averse to feeling that they’re being cheated ① that they often respond in ways that seemingly make little sense. Behavioral economists ― the economists who actually study ② what people do as opposed to the kind who simply assume the human mind works like a calculator ― have shown again and again that people reject unfair offers even if ③ it costs them money to do so. The typical experiment uses a task called the ultimatum game. It’s pretty straightforward. One person in a pair is given some money ― say $10. She then has the opportunity to offer some amount of it to her partner. The partner only has two options. He can take what’s offered or ④ refused to take anything. There’s no room for negotiation; that’s why it’s called the ultimatum game. What typically happens? Many people offer an equal split to the partner, ⑤ leaving both individuals happy and willing to trust each other in the future.
* averse to: ~을 싫어하는 ** ultimatum: 최후통첩