Role of Emotion in Decision Making
Emotions play a significant role in how we view both ourselves, the world we inhabit, and our role within it. Whether we like it or not, emotions tend to play a pivotal role in our decision-making process. According to Shiv (2011), “emotion plays a crucial role in the decision-making process by allowing us to resolve decision conflicts” (0:50). Position conflicts may be solved (or not solved) based upon our emotional state. Our emotional system allows us to reliably take a particular course of action and emerge feeling confident about the decisions we have made. This certainty cultivates the enthusiasm you have to keep taking care of business. The positive feeling spreads to your subordinates like a virus, and I have personally witnessed how strongly negative emotions can influence the workplace environment. Ultimately, positive feelings can help one in beating difficulties and understanding their dreams. According to Hoch and Kunreuther (2001) “There is now a growing body of evidence that affect and emotions play an important role in people’s decision processes” (p. 269). I will attempt to look for an ethical positive and balanced emotional state so that I may realize the benefits from the virtues of emotion.
Positive Confidence
Confidence is such a hard thing to maintain because it can be crushed at any moment. Positive Confidence is so important though because it gives us the strength we need to accomplish almost anything. One example in Positive Confidence is when I was running for political office. I was slated to speak to a group of constituents from a neighboring community. This particular community had problems with city services not picking up the heavy trash in a timely matter. Because I had sat in joint meetings as a member of my home association, I knew who the key players were and how to get them to be receptive to my talking points. Upon arrival to my surprise, I was greeted by a gentleman
Negative Confidence:
In terms of an example of a bad decision where confidence was put into question, I can relate to one of my social media posts. I found myself upset about the Charlottesville incident and began an unhealthy dialogue with strangers. I posted my true feelings pertaining to race in America. Because I was emotionally attached to the event and it led me to express my feelings on social media. At the time I was running for office and had several people question my stance on gun violence. Later during my campaign, I had to address my post, and I did not feel confident in doing so. My lack of confidence in tackling the gun issues made it hard for other people to understand my position on semi-automatic weapons fully. I've learned that if we reflect on decisions we have made and the context of the situations in which we created them we can quickly point out the effect that emotions have on decisions. Looking back I understand that my emotions got the best of me and caused me to secure votes.
Emotion and confidence are essential tools. Some decisions are easy and require very little thought, others are life changing and keep us up at night. The dilemma of whether or not you are making the right decision and how it will impact the future is a stressful one, therefore, making emotions and confidence am an important component of decision making.
References
Hoch, S.J. & Kunreuther H.C. (2001). Wharton on making decisions. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.
Shiv, B. (2011). Brain research at Stanford: Decision making. Retrieved from YouTube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKfl4owWKc
