Equal objective differences loom larger when they involve smaller baseline amounts

Evidence

Note that there is a trend here: As the size of the weight increases, the amount needed to differentiate between weights increases. However, the increase occurs in a systematic way ​ — for each weight lifted, the just noticeable weight difference is a change of 10% (a proportion of 0.1) in the weight. In this case, the pattern is 10 versus 11, 50 versus 55, and 100 versus 110 lbs, or a 10% difference in weight across the various baseline weights. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 799 (#expands, via linked claim)

It can be difficult to generate an intuition for this type of experiment, so rather than considering intensity discrimination of sound for the time being, let’s consider a weightlifting experiment. A weight lifter is given a weight and is asked to determine the next size weight needed to determine that one of the weights is bigger than the other. The weightlifter experiments with numerous weights and determines that he can tell the difference between a 10- and an 11-lb weight. Next, that same weight lifter is given a 50-lb weight and determines the size of the weight that is just noticeably heavier. Again, he experiments and determines that he can tell the difference between a 50- and a 55-lb weight. Finally, he does this at 100 lbs and discovers that he can differentiate between 100 and 110 lbs. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 798 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Larger baseline weights require proportionally larger differences to be noticed — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 798; Just noticeable differences are proportional to baseline stimulus size — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 799; Equal monetary differences loom larger when the ratio of the amounts is greater — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2472 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Just noticeable differences are proportional to baseline stimulus size #expands (0.95) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 799
• Larger baseline weights require proportionally larger differences to be noticed #expands (0.92) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 798