A632.9.3.RB - Role of Emotion in Decision Making_SharpMelissa

As I think about the most recent decisions I have made, I clearly see how emotions played a role in my decisions. The first is a situation in which I was extremely confident of the outcome and my attitude towards the subject. I have used this example a few times in this course, because it is one of the biggest adult decisions that I’ve ever made: a decision to buy a house. Though an exciting commitment, I knew the commitment to buy a house, was a big deal. I did not go into this process lightly. Before taking the more intricate steps, I talked with a friend who referred a realtor; it helped that I knew the realtor, thus, adding ease to my decision-making. I was passionate about this decision and as Professor Shiv (2011) noted, passion is very persuasive (Brian Research at Stanford: Decision Making). With passion and logic leading my decision, I was confident. Although I had never purchased property, I was confident about the outcome. My confidence in the outcome did not drive away the fear of doing something new, but I was definitely confident in my decision.

Unfortunately, not all decisions are filled with decision-confidence and outcome-confidence.  For example, when I decided to tell my best friend that I had more-than-friend feelings, I wasn’t confident in doing it (it just needed to be done); additionally, I was not confident about the outcome. I hoped for excitement as he learned of my feelings. While I deeply hoped for his exhilaration, I knew that was not going be the outcome, because I knew my audience. Instead of hearing about mutual feelings and seeing wild excitement in his eyes, I heard phrases like, “you’re my best friend”; “you’re like a sister”; “I’m flattered”; “thank you”, and of course, “I don’t know what to say”. After hearing these classic I-don’t-like-you- that-way-but-don’t-want-to-hurt-you phrases, I wanted to burn every last one of them; no one wants to hear those cordial expressions after vulnerably sharing feelings! In making the decision to tell my friend how I felt, I believe I was driven by passion and honesty. I was driven by passion because my feelings were strong, and I wanted to communicate them to him; I was driven by honesty because I felt as though keeping my feelings to myself, was deceptive. Overall, I know that emotions played an important role in my decision-making process; without the emotions, I don’t know if I would have had the courage to share my feelings (Hoch et al., 2001, p. 269).


Hoch, S., Kunreuther, H., & Gunther, R. E. (2001). Wharton on Making Decisions (1st ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc.


Shiv, B. (2011, November 07). Brain Research at Stanford: Decision Making. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKfl4owWKc&feature=youtu.be

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