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In the "ultimatum game" experiment conducted by Sanfey and coworkers, participants often exhibited a tendency to accept only high offers, which is categorized as an irrational decision. This behavior can be understood within the context of human psychology and social norms.

In the ultimatum game, one player proposes how to divide a sum of money, while the other player can either accept or reject the offer. If the second player rejects the offer, neither player receives anything. Typically, people often reject offers they perceive as unfair, even at a cost to themselves. This response underscores a desire for fairness and an emotional reaction to perceived injustice.

Thus, the tendency to accept only high offers can be seen as an emotional reaction rather than a purely rational assessment of maximizing outcomes. Players might reject offers that they find low or unfair, despite knowing they would end up with nothing if they don’t accept. This illustrates a fascinating aspect of human behavior that mixes emotional intelligence with decision-making processes, leading to what could be termed "irrational" choices in economic terms, but rational from a social or emotional perspective.