{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7163359271","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","title":"Thinking Past the Answer: Evaluating Harmful Overthinking in Large Reasoning Models","display_name":"Thinking Past the Answer: Evaluating Harmful Overthinking in Large Reasoning Models","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-06-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7163359271","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["datacite"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5092031240","display_name":"Simone Caldarella","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Caldarella, Simone","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5024252331","display_name":"Davide Talon","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6029-1532"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Talon, Davide","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5021198356","display_name":"Rahaf Aljundi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9871-6458"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Aljundi, Rahaf","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5137804847","display_name":"Elisa Ricci","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ricci, Elisa","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5137780552","display_name":"Massimiliano Mancini","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Mancini, Massimiliano","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11714","display_name":"Multimodal Machine Learning Applications","score":0.45750001072883606,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1707","display_name":"Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11714","display_name":"Multimodal Machine Learning Applications","score":0.45750001072883606,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1707","display_name":"Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10028","display_name":"Topic Modeling","score":0.13189999759197235,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12026","display_name":"Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)","score":0.09870000183582306,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/correctness","display_name":"Correctness","score":0.7330999970436096},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/reasoning-system","display_name":"Reasoning system","score":0.5953999757766724},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/opportunistic-reasoning","display_name":"Opportunistic reasoning","score":0.5730999708175659},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/model-based-reasoning","display_name":"Model-based reasoning","score":0.49309998750686646},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/analytic-reasoning","display_name":"Analytic reasoning","score":0.4713999927043915},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/case-based-reasoning","display_name":"Case-based reasoning","score":0.4668999910354614},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/deductive-reasoning","display_name":"Deductive reasoning","score":0.46059998869895935},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/qualitative-reasoning","display_name":"Qualitative reasoning","score":0.44920000433921814},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/automated-reasoning","display_name":"Automated reasoning","score":0.43230000138282776}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C55439883","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360812","display_name":"Correctness","level":2,"score":0.7330999970436096},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.6362000107765198},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C89288958","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7301504","display_name":"Reasoning system","level":2,"score":0.5953999757766724},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86827895","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7098582","display_name":"Opportunistic reasoning","level":4,"score":0.5730999708175659},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C37335422","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6888134","display_name":"Model-based reasoning","level":3,"score":0.49309998750686646},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C103057564","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4751139","display_name":"Analytic reasoning","level":3,"score":0.4713999927043915},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C20162079","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1151406","display_name":"Case-based reasoning","level":2,"score":0.4668999910354614},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C154945302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11660","display_name":"Artificial intelligence","level":1,"score":0.461899995803833},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C97364631","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q484284","display_name":"Deductive reasoning","level":2,"score":0.46059998869895935},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C83725634","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268699","display_name":"Qualitative reasoning","level":2,"score":0.44920000433921814},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C195344581","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2555318","display_name":"Automated reasoning","level":2,"score":0.43230000138282776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C115086926","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17004651","display_name":"Causal reasoning","level":3,"score":0.4212000072002411},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159032336","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2488768","display_name":"Non-monotonic logic","level":2,"score":0.3926999866962433},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C183521366","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7256422","display_name":"Psychology of reasoning","level":4,"score":0.3901999890804291},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777508537","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7936620","display_name":"Visual reasoning","level":2,"score":0.3456000089645386},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C43971567","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3142865","display_name":"Logical reasoning","level":2,"score":0.34389999508857727},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C43214815","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7310987","display_name":"Reliability (semiconductor)","level":3,"score":0.3400000035762787},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C36964233","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7920942","display_name":"Verbal reasoning","level":3,"score":0.33149999380111694},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776325391","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6917865","display_name":"Motivated reasoning","level":3,"score":0.32510000467300415},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780385302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367158","display_name":"Protocol (science)","level":3,"score":0.3240000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C133112747","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7251931","display_name":"Protocol analysis","level":2,"score":0.28349998593330383},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C119857082","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2539","display_name":"Machine learning","level":1,"score":0.2775999903678894},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C110251889","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1569697","display_name":"Model checking","level":2,"score":0.26489999890327454},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C13662910","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193139","display_name":"Trajectory","level":2,"score":0.26409998536109924},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C66024118","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1122506","display_name":"Computational model","level":2,"score":0.26190000772476196}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":null,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.02835","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Large":[0],"Reasoning":[1],"Models":[2],"(LRMs)":[3],"improve":[4],"performance":[5],"by":[6,153,160,199],"generating":[7],"explicit":[8],"intermediate":[9],"reasoning":[10,21,33,51,74,79,100,110,141,214],"traces":[11],"through":[12],"increased":[13],"test-time":[14],"compute,":[15],"yet":[16],"the":[17,46,53,61,77,88,133,166],"assumption":[18],"that":[19,31,121,146,193,208],"longer":[20],"is":[22,101],"consistently":[23],"beneficial":[24],"remains":[25],"under-examined.":[26],"While":[27],"recent":[28],"evidence":[29],"shows":[30],"additional":[32,99],"can":[34],"lead":[35],"models":[36,148],"to":[37,85,94,143,156,163,182,186,212],"overthink,":[38],"we":[39,65,119,206],"ask:":[40],"\"Once":[41],"a":[42,67,83,220],"model":[43,84],"has":[44],"reached":[45],"correct":[47,89,135],"answer,":[48],"does":[49],"further":[50],"refine":[52],"solution,":[54],"or":[55],"deviate":[56],"from":[57,105,116],"it?\"":[58],"To":[59],"study":[60],"dynamics":[62],"after":[63],"correctness,":[64],"introduce":[66],"prefix-level":[68],"trajectory":[69],"evaluation":[70],"protocol":[71],"grounded":[72],"in":[73],"sufficiency,":[75],"defining":[76],"minimum":[78],"budget":[80],"required":[81],"for":[82],"first":[86,134],"generate":[87],"answer.":[90],"This":[91],"allows":[92],"us":[93],"disentangle":[95],"verbose":[96,179],"overthinking,":[97,107],"where":[98,108],"redundant":[102],"but":[103,158],"harmless,":[104],"harmful":[106,188,217],"continued":[109],"destabilizes":[111],"an":[112],"already-correct":[113],"trajectory.":[114],"Starting":[115],"multimodal":[117],"benchmarks,":[118,215],"find":[120],"many":[122],"instances":[123],"considered":[124],"reasoning-intensive":[125],"require":[126],"surprisingly":[127],"little":[128],"reasoning.":[129],"Moreover,":[130],"stopping":[131,176],"at":[132,165,226],"prefix":[136],"improves":[137],"accuracy":[138],"over":[139],"standard":[140],"up":[142],"21%,":[144],"revealing":[145],"current":[147],"are":[149,196],"limited":[150],"not":[151],"only":[152],"their":[154,161],"ability":[155],"reason,":[157],"also":[159],"inability":[162],"stop":[164],"right":[167],"time.":[168],"Furthermore,":[169],"while":[170],"common":[171],"efficiency":[172],"strategies":[173],"like":[174],"early":[175],"substantially":[177],"reduce":[178],"overthinking":[180,218],"(up":[181],"50%),":[183],"they":[184],"fail":[185],"mitigate":[187],"overthinking.":[189],"Failure":[190],"analysis":[191],"reveals":[192],"correctness":[194],"deviations":[195],"mainly":[197],"driven":[198],"logical":[200],"drift":[201],"and":[202],"visual":[203],"reinterpretation.":[204],"Finally,":[205],"show":[207],"our":[209],"findings":[210],"generalize":[211],"language-only":[213],"highlighting":[216],"as":[219],"broader":[221],"reliability":[222],"risk.":[223],"Code":[224],"available":[225],"https://simonecaldarella.github.io/thinking-past-the-answer.":[227]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-07-01T06:00:48.157686","created_date":"2026-06-04T00:00:00"}