Preferences and Expectations

From the fund of knowledge people define their preferences and expectations, which reflect the culturally defined constraints and opportunities that shape individual actions. Expectations refer to an individual's assessment of how likely he or she will achieve personal goals. This assessment can take various forms and will reflect the individual's attitude toward different kinds of uncertainty. A culture's history, reflected in the Fund of Knowledge and Experience, sets the boundaries of acceptable risk-taking behavior. Some cultures, for example, give more leeway than others to individuals to consume and transform natural resources. Overall, an individual's goals are expressed as preferences, which are defined within a particular cultural context and chosen by evaluating alternatives.



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