Subjective Probability Increases Across Communication Chains: Introducing the Probability Escalation Effect

A severity effect has previously been documented, whereby numerical translations of verbal probability expressions are higher for severe outcomes than for non-severe outcomes. Recent work has additionally shown the same effect in the opposite direction (translating numerical probabilities into words). Here, we aimed to test whether these effects lead to an escalation of subjective probabilities across a communication chain. In four ‘communication chain’ studies, participants at each communication stage either translated a verbal probability expression into a number, or a number into a verbal expression (where the probability to be translated was yoked to a previous participant). Across these four studies, we found a general Probability Escalation Effect, whereby subjective probabilities increased with subsequent communications for severe, non-severe and positive events. Having ruled out some alternative explanations, we propose that the most likely explanation is in terms of communications directing attention towards an event's occurrence. Probability estimates of focal outcomes increase across communication stages. •Probabilities are communicated across 5–7 participant groups (communication stages).•At each stage, words are translated into numbers, or numbers into words.•Probability estimates of focal outcomes increased across the communication stages.•The effect occurred for severe, non-severe and positive outcomes.•Our proposed explanation is that communications typically direct attention to an event's occurrence.