Obfuscation maximization-based decision-making: Theory, methodology and first empirical evidence

Theories of decision-making are routinely based on the notion that decision-makers choose alternatives which align with their underlying preferences—and hence preferences can be inferred from choices. In some situations, however, a decision-maker may wish to hide his or her an onlooker. This paper argues such obfuscation-based choice behavior is likely relevant in various as political decision-making. puts forward simple and tractable discrete model behavior, by combining well-known concepts Bayesian inference information entropy. After deriving illustrating key properties, presents results obfuscation game was designed explore whether decision-makers, when properly incentivized, would able obfuscate effectively, heuristics they employ do so. Together, analyses presented this provide stepping stones towards more profound understanding