Psychology of Decision Making

Psychology of Decision Making

• The average adult makes approximately 35,000 decisions daily.
• Decision-making is a cognitive process analyzed through statistical and experimental methods.
• Biases, reason, emotions, and memories influence decisions.

Decision Time

• Students are asked to discuss decisions with partners.
• Students must explain their reasons for the decision.
• Decisions will be discussed as a class.
• Scenarios will be presented.
• Students will discuss what they would do in each scenario.

Scenario 1: The Shirt

• A student sees a desired shirt in a store, but doesn't have enough money, and the security tag is missing.
• Scenario asks what to do.
• This is a decision point related to impulse control, values, and ethics.

Scenario 2: The Stolen Shirt

• A student's friend steals a shirt and asks what to do.
• The student knows the behavior is wrong but doesn't want to expose the friend by reporting it.
• The scenario is about upholding friendships, loyalty, and ethical decisions

Scenario 3: Drinking Alcohol

• A student's friend tries to drink alcohol, knowing the parents disapprove of underage drinking.
• The student knows this behavior is wrong.
• Scenario presents a choice related to personal safety and ethical decision making

Scenario 4: The Date & Concert

• A student has a date and a friend offers a concert ticket.
• The student has to choose between the date and the concert.
• The task weighs the values of a romantic relationship and the value of personal interests.

Scenario 5: Smoking After-school

• A student's friend offers a puff from an electronic cigarette (vape) at a store after school.
• Student has to make a decision regarding personal health, peer pressure, and the potential risks involved in vaping.

Decision Making and Age

• Decision-making changes with age.
• Pre-frontal cortex development affects adolescents.
• Teenagers rely more on emotional responses.
• It is important to consider the emotional aspects of teenage decision-making.

Teenage Brain

• The prefrontal cortex is still developing in teenagers.
• Connections between brain regions are still forming.
• This impacts decision-making, making teenagers more vulnerable to emotional responses.
• Teens often prioritize immediate rewards (“temptation blindness”) over future consequences.

Teenagers and Decisions

• The amygdala plays a greater role in teenage decisions.
• Emotional responses heavily influence decisions due to the still-developing prefrontal cortex.
• This influences teenagers to make emotionally charged choices.

Peer Pressure and Decision Making

• Adolescent behavior is influenced by peers, leading to risky choices.
• Impulse control is lower when among peers.
• Teenagers may make riskier decisions due to peer influence.
• The Stoplight task assesses risk-taking behavior.
• The results demonstrate a peer effect.

Decision Making Strategies

• There are different strategies for decision making
• Example decision strategies include: Single-Feature Model, Additive Feature Model, and Elimination by Aspects Model

The Single-Feature Model

• Making a decision based on only one important factor.
• Example: Choosing a snack based solely on cost.

The Additive Feature Model

• Evaluating all critical factors of various choices.
• Example: Using this approach to compare multiple features of electronics when choosing which one to purchase.

The Elimination by Aspects Model

• Eliminating each choice based on critical features and prioritizing the most valuable characteristics.
• Example: Evaluating multiple colleges, first eliminating schools that don't meet certain academic standards.

Dive into the intricate world of decision-making in psychology. This quiz explores factors influencing choices, including biases, emotions, and ethical dilemmas through engaging scenarios. Join discussions with peers to analyze and justify your decisions in various situations.