Bess J. Puvathingal, M.A., BCBA

E-mail: bpuvathingal@temple.edu

Bio: Bess is a fifth-year graduate student researching decision making with Dr. Hantula. She received her B.A. in psychology and biology from Washington University in St. Louis, her M.A. in behavior analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is currently a board certified behavior analyst and a fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Bess’ behavioral economics research examines how individuals use information to make decisions in highly uncertain circumstances, with a special emphasis on national security situations.

Representative publications and/or presentations:

Hantula, D. A., & Puvathingal, B. J. (2008). The important contingencies in gambling are seldom clear: Avoiding the rational choice trap. Analysis of Gambling Behavior, 2, 99-100.

Puvathingal, B. J., & Hantula, D. A. (2010). Going for broke? Staying in the game? Sunk-cost effect depends on measurement. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA.

Puvathingal, B.J., & Hantula, D.A. (2010). An empirical investigation of sunk cost and equivocality on escalation of commitment: A test of competing theories. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Economic Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Puvathingal, B. J., & Hantula, D.A. (2009). Revisiting the fog of war: Middle Eastern foreign policy as escalation of commitment. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Phoenix, AZ.