95. Mood Influences The Decision-Making Process

Your Gut or Your Logic?

We've all been in situations where we're torn between making a decision using our gut or logic. Sometimes logically it would be best to decide not to, simply because cons may outweigh pros but at the same time your gut says otherwise. Your gut may tell you that there could be some turnaround if you decide to go through with it. How you are feeling in that given moment can greatly influence your decision.

Moods and Decisions

Research by Marieke de Vries and her team was conducted in 2008 to find out the connotation between moods and decision-making strategies. Gathered participants were showed a clip from either a Muppets movie or Schindler's list. These clips would evoke a happy and sad feeling respectively.

Mood and Decisions (continued)

Directly after, some participants were asked what kind of Thermos product they would like to win while others were asked to evaluate any pros and cons of the products. All participants were then told to estimate the value of the products. Lastly, they filled out questionnaires to measure their current mood and rate their usual decision making style. The two decision-making styles within this research are intuitive (based on feelings) and deliberate (based on logic).

The following results were recorded: Participants estimated the Thermos to be higher when given the decision-making style that matches their usual style. Participants in a happy mood estimated the Thermos higher intuitively. Participants in a sad mood estimated the Thermos higher deliberately.

Takeaways

Some people make decisions intuitively while others make decisions deliberately. People will estimate a higher value when they use their usual decision-making style. A person's mood can easily be influenced which will then influence their decision making.