The golden section: A conventional ideal?

The observation that subjects conserve the golden section in an interpersonal judgment task calling for the employment of a broad range of judgment outcomes implies a compensation model of interpersonal judgment. Benjafield and Pomeroy (1978) suggest that the GS serves as an ideal around which such judgments are organized. This hypothesis is tested in two experiments, both of which indicate that subjects conserve the golden section by excluding from consideration extreme trials which would demand extensive compensatory judgments. Results are discussed in term of our seemingly natural predilection for moderate judgments.