Recent research has amply documented that even preschoolers learn selectively from others, preferring, for example, reliable over unreliable and competent over incompetent models. It remains unclear, however, what the cognitive foundations of such selective learning are, in particular, whether it builds on rational inferences or on less sophisticated processes. The current study, therefore, was...

We cite examples from our own research indicating that those populations requiring decisional support to change specific aspects of their behavior may actually be the least able to benefit from that decisional support. Implications for designers are discussed.