August 6, 2021
by Tina Arnoldi
Decision making is a unique human ability. It is the opportunity to define and shape one's future, based on past experiences and environment. Before we make a decision, we review the pros and cons of each option that has been presented for consideration. Many people believe that following a certain evaluation process helps us identify the best possible choice. However, a new study from the University of London found that going with your gut can result in better decision making than using detailed methods.
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June 23, 2019
by Elizabeth Pratt
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by options available in the cereal aisle, you're not alone. It's called choice overload and a new study from the University of Buffalo has examined motivational factors that contribute to the phenomenon.
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April 16, 2015
by Mary Horn, Psy.D.
On March 24, 2015, tragedy changed the lives of everyone who had a friend or loved one on Germanwings flight 9525 that was en route from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany. In the initial phase of the investigation and recovery effort, most evidence points to the flight’s Co-pilot thoughtfully and methodically locking the cockpit door when the Captain went to the restroom, and purposely steering the plane into a mountain in the French Alps at 400 miles per hour.
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Decision fatigue is a genuine condition. The term refers to the way decisions made by people after a long session of decision making will deteriorate (Baumeister, 2003). Decision fatigue is an important consideration here at Christmas time. Deciding the right thing to buy for others, shopping for it, then paying a good price for it are uppermost in most people’s minds at this time of year.
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