Expected Utility Theory (EUT) is a concept which plays an important role in decision-making. Developed by the Swiss mathematician and philosopher Daniel Bernoulli in the 18th century, EUT is used to effectively measure people's preferences when it comes to making decisions when there may be some degree of uncertainty involved. The aim of this theory is to predict the utility, or satisfaction, associated with a certain decision in the face of future events whose outcome is unknown.

EUT can be applied to a range of scenarios. One of the more common application of this theory is when analysing the expected payoffs of a certain action in light of uncertain future outcomes. This can be used in situations such as buying an insurance policy, or in cases where a person is considering investing in a particular venture with an associated benefit or detriment.

The key to EUT is understanding the concept of expected utility, or the probability of a potential outcome multiplied by the expected gain or loss associated with it. Expected utility is a weighted average of the potential gains and losses of a decision, which allows individuals to assess the benefit or detriment of such decisions in the presence of uncertainty.

In essence, EUT provides a way to measure the ‘utility’ associated with expected future outcomes. This can help individuals assess the desirability of their choices, and make decisions based on a holistic evaluation of anticipated consequences.

Overall, EUT is a valuable tool which can be used to better understand how people make decisions in the face of uncertainty. It can be used in a variety of scenarios, from investing and buying insurance, to more abstract decision making. By taking advantage of expected utility, people can ensure that their decisions are reliably informed and correctly balanced, and that their ultimate choices result in the best possible overall outcome.