arbiter
JournalsAccount

Warning: Warnings Can Backfire Even When They Provide New and Important Information

Ido Erev et al.

Journal of Behavioral Decision Making2026https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.70077article
AJG 3ABDC A
Weight
0.50

Abstract

We clarify the conditions under which warnings that provide useful information backfire. Our analysis is based on three observations: (1) warnings can increase the attention given to the warned‐against behavior, (2) in many settings, counterproductive warned‐against behaviors (like texting while driving) are typically rewarding, and (3) decisions from experience reflect insufficient sensitivity to rare outcomes. A simple model that abstracts the implications of these observations predicts that a backfiring effect initially emerges when the warned‐against behavior is unlikely to be considered without the warning. In addition, the model predicts an increase in the choice rate of the warned‐against behavior, with experience, when the probability of losing from the warned‐against behavior is low. Experiment 1 tests and supports these predictions in the context of warnings concerning risky clicks. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrate the generality of these predictions in more complex settings that involve warnings concerning danger zones and misinformation.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.70077

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{ido2026,
  title        = {{Warning: Warnings Can Backfire Even When They Provide New and Important Information}},
  author       = {Ido Erev et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of Behavioral Decision Making},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.70077},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Warning: Warnings Can Backfire Even When They Provide New and Important Information

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.