Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Entscheidung / Español: decisión / Português: decisão / Français: décision / Italiano: decisione

A decision is generally the choices made around problem areas in organizations , which include: (1) Programmed decisions -the same type of decisions made regularly; (2) Non-programmed decisions - decisions for which there are no previous case and examples to follow; (3) Top-down decisions- are those made at senior levels in the company/organization; and (4) Empowered decisions - are those made at the lowest levels at which decisions can be made.

Decision in the context of psychology refers to the cognitive process of selecting a course of action from among multiple alternatives. It involves perception, Evaluation, reasoning, and judgment, and is influenced by both conscious and unconscious factors. Decision-making is central to human behaviour and is studied in various subfields including cognitive psychology, behavioural economics, and neuropsychology.

Description

A decision is not a single act but a dynamic mental process that integrates information processing, emotional appraisal, and value assessment. It can be intuitive (fast, automatic, emotional) or deliberative (slow, logical, analytical). Psychological research distinguishes between routine decisions (e.g. what to eat), complex decisions (e.g. choosing a career), and moral decisions, each involving different neural and cognitive mechanisms.

Key components of decision-making include:

• Goal identification: Understanding what the decision aims to achieve.

• Option generation: Identifying possible choices or actions.

• Evaluation: Weighing pros and cons, risks, and potential outcomes.

• Selection: Choosing the most suitable option.

• Implementation: Acting upon the decision.

• Review: Reflecting on the outcome and learning from it.

Factors influencing decisions range from cognitive biases (e.g. confirmation bias, anchoring) to emotional states (e.g. anxiety, excitement), past experiences, social influences, and individual personality traits.

In some cases, decision-making is impaired due to psychological disorders (e.g. indecisiveness in depression, impulsivity in ADHD) or neurological conditions (e.g. damage to the prefrontal cortex).

Typical Manifestations

• Overthinking: Excessive deliberation without resolution.

• Impulsivity: Acting without sufficient thought or consideration.

• Avoidance: Delaying or refusing to make decisions due to fear of consequences.

• Regret and rumination: Constantly second-guessing past decisions.

• Decision paralysis: Inability to choose due to too many options or anxiety.

Recommendations

• Clarify values and goals: Understanding what matters most helps in aligning decisions with personal meaning.

• Limit options: Reducing the number of choices simplifies evaluation and avoids overload.

• Use structured tools: Decision matrices, pros-and-cons lists, and scoring systems aid objectivity.

• Set time limits: Prevents endless rumination and promotes timely action.

• Practice self-awareness: Recognise emotional states and cognitive biases during the process.

• Seek feedback: Talking to trusted people can offer new perspectives.

Application in Personal Life

• Everyday life requires constant decision-making, from small choices to life-defining ones.

• Improved decision skills enhance confidence, reduce stress, and support personal growth.

• Being aware of past decision patterns helps in breaking unhelpful habits or assumptions.

• Teaching children and adolescents good decision strategies supports their autonomy.

Well-Known Examples

• Iowa Gambling Task: A psychological test that illustrates how people learn decision strategies under uncertainty.

• "Paradox of Choice”: A concept by Barry Schwartz explaining how too many options can reduce satisfaction.

• Damasio’s Somatic Marker Hypothesis: Suggests that emotions play a critical role in guiding rational decisions.

Symptoms, Therapy, and Healing

• Symptoms: Chronic indecision, anxiety before choices, impulsive behaviours, obsessive re-evaluation.

• Therapy options:

  • Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and restructure faulty decision patterns.

  • Mindfulness training: Reduces emotional reactivity and improves focus during decision-making.

  • Problem-solving therapy: Teaches structured steps for evaluating and choosing options.

  • Executive coaching or life coaching: Useful for decision improvement in professional or personal contexts.

• Healing approach:

  • Recognise maladaptive patterns.

  • Replace them with informed, reflective habits.

  • Develop tolerance for uncertainty and imperfection.

Examples of Sentences

• The patient struggles with daily decisions, often paralysed by fear of making the wrong choice.

• Therapy focused on improving decision-making through practical exercises and cognitive reframing.

• He learned to make quicker decisions by limiting his choices and clarifying his priorities.

• Emotional bias often clouds her ability to make rational decisions.

Similar Terms

• Judgment: The evaluation process behind decisions.

• Choice: The act of selecting one option among several.

• Cognitive bias: Systematic errors in thinking affecting decisions.

• Problem-solving: Broader framework in which decisions are one element.

• Agency: The sense of control and responsibility over decisions and actions.

Articles with 'Decision' in the title

• Corey’s model of ethical decision-making: Corey’s model of ethical decision-making refers to a seven (7) step ethical decision-making model which include: 1. identifying the problem-. 2. identifying the potential issues involved
• Decision analysis: Decision analysis refers to a technology that helps people gather and integrate information in an optimal way.
• Decision making: Decision making refers to the process(es) by which an individual selects one course of action from among alternatives. In the psychology context, decision-making refers to the process of choosing among several options or alternatives based . . .
• Decision structuring: Decision structuring refers to the process(es) by which an individual establishes the criteria and options for consideration.
• Decision tree: Decision tree refers to a strategy used for diagnosis, consisting of yes/no questions that guide clinicians in ruling in or out psychological disorders
• Ethical Decision-Making: Ethical decision-making in the psychology context refers to the process by which psychologists and other professionals navigate complex situations by applying ethical principles and standards
• Functional theory of group decision making: Functional theory of group decision making refers to a conceptual analysis of the steps or processes that groups generally follow when making a decision, with a focus on the intended Purpose of each step or process in the overall decision- . . .
• Group decision support systems: Group decision support systems refers to a set of integrated tools that groups use to structure and facilitate their decision making that include computer programs that expedite data acquisition, communication among group members, document . . .
• Impaired Decision-Making: Impaired decision-making in the psychology context refers to a diminished ability to make choices that are considered rational and well-thought-out, based on weighing the potential outcomes, benefits, and drawbacks
• Indecision: Indecision is a psychological phenomenon characterized by the inability or difficulty in making a decision when faced with multiple options or choices
• Lexical decision task: Lexical decision task is a task in which an experimental subject is presented with letter strings and asked to judge, as quickly as possible, if the strings form words- deciding as quickly as possible whether a string of letters is a real . . .
• Normative model of decision making: Normative model of decision making refers to a theory of decision making and leadership developed by Victor Vroom that predicts the effectiveness of group-centered, consultative, and autocratic decisional procedures across a number of . . .
• Postdecision dissonance: Postdecision dissonance refers to Dissonance that is inevitably aroused after a person makes a decision- in this situation, Dissonance is typically reduced by enhancing the attractiveness of the chosen alternative and devaluing the . . .
• Proportion of correct decisions: Proportion of correct decisions refers to a utility method that compares the Percentage of times a selection decision was accurate with the percentage of successful employees
• The decision tree: The decision tree is a set of five (5) steps that must be completed before an individual will intervene in an emergency situation

Weblinks

• top500.de: 'Decision' in the glossary of the top500.de
• maritime-glossary.com: 'Decision' in the maritime-glossary.com
• quality-database.eu: 'Decision' in the glossary of the quality-database.eu
• allerwelt-lexikon.de: 'Entscheidung' in the allerwelt-lexikon.de (German)

Summary

A decision is a complex psychological process involving evaluation, emotion, and action. Effective decision-making enhances personal autonomy and mental health, while poor or impaired decision processes can lead to stress and dysfunction. Structured strategies and therapeutic support can significantly improve decision competence.

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