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).
The same holds true for other emotions including fear or sadness. There is an inherent false consensus that those making decisions often experience, seeing others' perceptual valuation and belief in a given decision-making outcome. Not only does this completely change the context and perception of actual alternatives, it can also create false pressure on the decision to be made in a specific way...
Like the respondents who are making more myopic and ill-defined decisions in the study of how sexual arousal impacts decision logic, those who are sad or fearing an outcome will tend to also experience a myopic view of options and seek opt mitigate imagined or perceived threats (Ariely, Loewenstein, 2006). All of this is occurring while the decision maker is assuming their self-awareness is optimal, which is often a sign of perceptual bias on their part (Andrade, Ariely, 2009). The net effect is a decision that many will regret as it is completely impacted by incorrect perceptions.
References
Andrade, E.B., & Ariely, D. (2009). The enduring impact of transient emotions on decision making. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 109(1),
Ariely, D., & Loewenstein, G. (2006). The heat of the moment: the effect of sexual arousal on sexual…
