Decision-making doesn’t always go the way we expect. Ever wondered why we do what we do and choose what we choose? Gyan Yankovich did, so she found out…
Some of the biggest decisions I’ve made in my life have also been some of the easiest: moving in with my boyfriend, taking time off work to travel, relocating to a different country. When it comes to making small decisions, however, I’m absolutely hopeless. I’ve spent the past three months deciding whether a French-girl fringe would suit me (I still have literally no idea) and I can’t remember a single time I’ve had an answer to the question: ‘What do you feel like for dinner?’ When it comes to making insignificant choices – sushi or salad? Bed or party? – I stumble, overwhelmed. Why!?
‘We have so much choice these days, from the mundane to the life-changing. In the past, while we had less freedom, we also had less decisions to make,’ explains psychologist Jacqui Manning. In 2017, with a world of opportunity at our fingertips, you’d think that our decision making skills would be more refined than ever. It should be getting easier, right? I mean, we’re definitely getting enough practice. But if my haircut inspo folder is anything to go by, a lot of us are still finding it tough – ridiculously so – to make a choice about, well, anything. And as always, there’s a reason why.
Decisions, decisions
For years, many experts have agreed that there are two types of decision-makers among us: maximisers and satisficers.
This story is from the January 2018 edition of Cosmopolitan Australia.
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This story is from the January 2018 edition of Cosmopolitan Australia.
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