While Pinker uses it as a metaphor, the logic applies to actual lotteries and decision theory:
: In decision theory, choosing which "ticket" to buy is often a matter of finding the option that "stochastically dominates" others—meaning it offers a better distribution of potential outcomes. which lottery ticket to buy
: $1.00 cost, 1-in-5 chance to win $12.00 (Net average: $1.40 ).Knowing which is which is valuable because it shifts your expected outcome from a random average ($1.45) to the higher-yield option ($1.50). While Pinker uses it as a metaphor, the
: $1.00 cost, 1-in-4 chance to win $10.00 (Net average: $1.50 ). and odds of winning.
: Different games have different "expected values" based on ticket price, prize pool, and odds of winning.