Decisions that we make on a daily basis are numbered in thousands. Others are straightforward such as what to wear or what to eat in the morning. Others are more complicated, such as the decision of how we should use our time, whom we can trust, or what direction we should follow in life. Although we tend to believe that we are rational decision-makers, psychology tells quite the opposite. It is an interesting combination of emotion, experience, prejudice and brain chemistry behind every decision.
Knowing how we make decisions does not only help us understand why we act in a particular way but it also enables us to make better decisions.
Two Systems, One Mind
Psychologists have referred to two mental systems that are in most cases behind the decision-making process. One is quick, automatic and sentimental. It enables us to respond immediately, which is based on intuition and history. The other is methodical, cumbersome, and rational. This system assists us to process information, evaluate choices and consider the outcomes.
The fast system dominates in most instances. It is also energy-saving and efficient, and this can come in handy when making daily decisions. When a decision is important or unfamiliar, the slower system intervenes, e.g. when solving a complex problem or making a future plan. Nevertheless, since the fast system is automatic, it may also cause errors, particularly when it comes to the use of emotions.
The Role of Emotions in Decision-Making
Emotions are not bad foes of good decisions as many people think. In fact, they are essential. Emotions are shortcuts in our mind and they enable us to make swift judgments about our situation. Affective responses like fear, excitement or even discomfort will direct us to or away some decisions.
An example of these is that, fear can save us when we are in danger, and excitement can encourage us to make opportunities. Yet, feelings may distort the judgment as well. We can make hasty decisions when we are stressed, angry or too excited and not thinking them through. This is the reason why human beings are always regretful about the decisions they make during the moment of madness.
Cognitive Biases: The Hidden Influencers
Cognitive biases are shortcuts that our brains use in order to decide more quickly. Although such shortcuts are beneficial, they also misguide us. Confirmation bias is one of the biases, in which we prefer information that confirms our initial beliefs and reject information that challenges our beliefs. The other one is the availability bias in which we decide on the probability of something based on how accessible it is to recall, not the facts on the ground.
These biases are like silent actors working in our background and influence our decision making without our knowledge. They affect our perception of news to the way we evaluate others. The initial step in making more balanced and thoughtful decisions is becoming aware of such biases.
Experience and Past Choices
Each choice we make has an imprint in the brain. The past influences the future decisions as it educates us on what has worked and what has failed to work. When the decision has a good result, we have a higher tendency to repeat it. When it went bad, we are likely to avoid such circumstances.
This is the learning process that makes us become adjusted but it can also hinder us. A failure in the past can at times cause us to be too cautious even in cases where the circumstance has changed. Our brains are programmed to save us and this saving may at times work against us.
The Pressure of Time and Environment
Making decisions is not done in a vacuum. A significant part is played by time pressure, social influence, and environment. The brain goes on autopilot when we are in a hurry, we are exhausted, or we are overwhelmed. This is the reason why we usually make the best decisions when we are relaxed and do not feel tired.
Decisions are also influenced by social pressure more than we can realize. We tend to seek other people as indicators of how to behave particularly in situations that are not so clear cut. It could result in improved decisions because of knowledge sharing but it is also possible to make poor decisions by following the crowd and not thinking individually.
Why We Sometimes Struggle to Decide
Fear is usually the cause of indecision: fear of not choosing the correct option, fear of regretting, or fear of missing out. In case of excess of choices there is a possibility of the brain being overwhelmed which leads to stress and avoidance. This is referred to as decision paralysis.
Ironically, when we have a greater number of options, we are not necessarily happier. Rather it may heighten anxiety and dissatisfaction because we always question ourselves whether we would have made a better choice.
Making Better Decisions
Knowing the psychology of decision making is an advantage. Delays in making critical decisions, doubting emotional responses and awareness of biases can result in more considered decisions. Taking time, exploring other viewpoints, and contemplating the past are all methods of enhancing the quality of decisions.
Making good decisions is not about being entirely logical it is about having a balance between emotion and reason.
Final Thoughts
All your decisions are influenced by a complicated balance between your brain, feelings, experiences and the world. Although we might not know all the time the forces that affect our decisions, understanding how they work enables us to be in control.
The next time you are confronted with a difficult decision, keep in mind: your mind is not only choosing, but it is also bargaining between instinct, emotion and logic. And you can be conscious of that process and direct it to smarter, more confident decisions.