Teaching Values to Machines: Simulating Human-Like Behavior in LLMs

2026-06-25 · Source: Paper Index on ACL Anthology · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social Sciences & Behavioral Studies · Depth: Expert, quick

Summary

Researchers explored whether Large Language Models (LLMs) can exhibit behavior consistent with human-like value structures, drawing on established psychological value theory. They conducted extensive experiments, posing over 5 million questions using validated psychological questionnaires to leading LLMs, comparing their value structures and value-behavior relationships against human studies. The findings demonstrate strong agreement between value-prompted LLMs and humans across both dimensions. Furthermore, integrating human value distributions significantly improves population-level simulations utilizing value-induced LLMs. This work highlights the potential of these psychologically grounded LLMs as effective tools for simulating human behavior.

Key takeaway

For AI Scientists developing LLM-based simulations, this research suggests incorporating established psychological value theory. You can induce human-like value structures in LLMs, leading to behavior that strongly aligns with human patterns. This approach offers a psychologically grounded tool for more accurate human behavior simulations, enhancing model fidelity for social science or behavioral economics applications. Consider integrating validated psychological questionnaires into your LLM prompting strategies.

Key insights

LLMs can be induced to manifest coherent, human-like value structures, aligning with established psychological theory.

Principles

• LLMs can adopt coherent human-like value structures.
• Value-prompting aligns LLM behavior with human patterns.
• Human value distributions enhance population simulations.

Method

Used established psychological value theory to induce values in LLMs. Evaluated value structures and value-behavior relationships via over 5 million questions from validated psychological questionnaires.

In practice

• Simulate human behavior using value-induced LLMs.
• Enhance population-level behavioral simulations.
• Ground LLM outputs in psychological theory.

Topics

• Large Language Models
• Psychological Value Theory
• Human Behavior Simulation
• LLM Alignment
• Behavioral Economics

Best for: AI Scientist, Research Scientist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Paper Index on ACL Anthology.