How Emotions Effect Decision Making Processes

By Sabrina Maharjan

Emotions play a crucial role in the decision making process, particularly during stressful situations, influencing both our judgements and actions. As a universal experience, stress affects not only our emotional well-being but also the cognitive function essential for making sound decisions. In today’s fast paced world, where individuals constantly face high stakes choices, understanding the link between stress and decision-making is more important than ever. During high-pressure situations, emotions often intensify, disrupting our ability to think logically, assess risks accurately, and control impulses (Zeelenberg et al., 2008). Exploring how these heightened emotions shape our decisions reveals the complex relationship between stress and human behaviour.

What Causes Emotions to Intensify?

1. Biological Factors

The limbic system, which includes the amygdala, is pivotal in processing emotions such as fear and anxiety during stressful situations (Paul, 2015). Hormonal changes, particularly the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, can heighten feelings of anxiety, anger, or sadness. 

2. Environmental Influences

Sensory, people and even aesthetics of your environment can invoke feelings. Having an untidy workspace, the temperature and lighting being too harsh or just the Noise, and chaos in the surrounding area can over-stimulate the brain, causing increased agitation, discomfort and anxiety (Lindberg, 2023).  

3. Psychological Triggers

Our thoughts and past experiences shape how we interpret and react to stressors. Cognitive appraisal—how we perceive a stressor—can determine our emotional response. For example, believing that a situation is threatening can amplify fear and anxiety, causing more intense emotions (Paul, 2015).

The Influences that affect Decision making

1. Cognitive Biases 

Emotions can create biases in how we perceive information and evaluate options. For instance, negative emotions like fear can lead to overly cautious decisions, while positive emotions can lead to increased risk-taking (Rafferty, 2024). This effect underscores the interplay between emotional states and cognitive processing during decision-making 

2. Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognize and manage one's emotions (emotional intelligence) is crucial for effective decision-making. Individuals with high emotional intelligence can harness their emotions to inform choices without being overwhelmed by them, leading to more balanced and reasoned outcomes (Rafferty, 2024).

3. Motivational Role

Emotions act as motivators that drive us to make decisions. Without emotions, we would lack the impetus to act, often resulting in passivity (Rafferty, 2024). For instance, feelings of happiness may encourage investments in enjoyable experiences, while fear may promote cautious behavior, steering decisions towards safety

Judgement and Actions

Intense emotions during stressful situations can significantly impair judgment and decision-making, leading to biased thinking and impulsive actions.

Emotions, particularly those associated with high arousal, can disrupt cognitive functions such as problem-solving, decision-making, and attention (Magazine, 2023). For instance, when individuals feel threatened, their cognitive resources are often diminished, making it harder to engage in complex problem-solving or to consider multiple perspectives (Magazine, 2023). Emotions can lead to biased decision-making. For example, individuals experiencing strong emotions may jump to conclusions or engage in selective information processing, which can result in poor judgment (Zeelenberg et al., 2008). This is particularly evident in high-stress situations where individuals may prioritize immediate emotional responses over rational analysis(Magazine, 2023). Which is why many people make poor decisions when stressed and angry.

Summery

In summary, intense emotions during stressful situations can profoundly affect judgment and actions, leading to biased thinking and impulsive behaviors. Recognizing and managing these emotions is crucial for making informed decisions in challenging circumstances.

References

Lindberg, S. (2023, March 23). How Your Environment Affects Your Mental Health. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-your-environment-affects-your-mental-health-5093687

Magazine, P. (2023, October 31). How Emotions Play Important Role in Decision Making. Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine. https://www.psychologs.com/how-emotions-play-important-role-in-decision-making/

Paul, M. (2015, April 17). What Emotional Triggers Are + Why You Need To Understand Them. Mindbodygreen. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/emotional-triggers

Rafferty, J. (2024). 3.5 The Impact of Emotions on Cognition. Oercollective.caul.edu.au. https://oercollective.caul.edu.au/neuroscience-psychology-conflict/chapter/3-5-the-impact-of-emotions-on-cognition/

Zeelenberg, M., Nelissen, R. M. A., Breugelmans, S. M., & Pieters, R. (2008). On emotion specificity in decision making: Why feeling is for doing. Judgment and Decision Making, 3(1), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1930297500000139