Emotions Impact on Decision Making

Emotions Impact on Decision Making

Assessing the Impact of Emotions on Decision Making

Emotions tend to sharpen and clarify decision making in the context of the immediate subject or activity of interest, creating a myopic view of the world that is difficult to easily disengage from. This "tunnel vision" like focus when there is sexual arousal, sexual passion or even sexual interest can easily negate any other sensory inputs and perceptual cues from the external environment (Ariely, Loewenstein, 2006). The corresponding effect is an immediate reduction in the ability to make decisions based on assessments of all factors relevant to the situation. Emotions tend complicate and often lead people to make erroneous assumptions regarding the motives, believability and perceptions of others (Andrade, Ariely, 2009). Strongly positive or negative emotions are often associative and assume to be held by those around the person making the decision as well; there is an affiliative effect of this type of process (Andrade, Ariely, 2009). The stronger the emotions the greater the level of perceptual bias and inability to accurately ascertain a given situation.

Second, there is ample evidence from these two articles that when someone Is making a major decision as to who they will marry, what car to buy, or even what home to purchase, there needs to be more time for inflection and decision making across a range of emotions to ensure consistency and accuracy of perception (Andrade, Ariely, 2009). If any of these significant decisions are associated with a specific state of sexual arousal, the entire framework or perceptual model completely changes, becomes much more myopic, and the object of desire or lust becomes the focal point of all thinking (Ariely, Loewenstein, 2006). Studies show that borderline ethical behavior male respondents believed they would be strong enough ethically and morally to resist prove too strong if the ideal conditions exist and their state of arousal is heightened (Ariely, Loewenstein, 2006). The authors imply that the most significant decisions need to be centered on a strong foundation of being free from this myopic focus on satisfaction of desire, and instead be more grounded in conscious awareness. Self-control is rarely enough to stop even unethical or immoral behavior in the context of sexual aroused states (Ariely, Loewenstein, 2006). The authors also contend that when major decisions need to be made, respondents would be best to negate the influences of these sources to reduce the risk of myopic focus and decision-making (Andrade, Ariely, 2009). For those making major life decisions, being able to gain greater self-awareness and moving beyond the constraints of myopic perceptional bias based on sexual stimuli is advised (Ariely, Loewenstein, 2006).