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I should probably look into buying an umbrella, Y/N?
Psychologists have compiled a variety of experimental evidence that suggests ways in which
emotions may influence decisions. One such experiment involved 165 undergraduate students who were
asked to decide whether they wanted one of two snacks as a reward for participating in the study: a piece
of chocolate cake with cherry topping or a fruit salad. Before choosing, the students were divided into two
groups. One group was asked to memorize a seven-digit number and the other, a two-digit number.
The results of the experiment indicated that the students who were required to memorize the
seven-digit number chose the chocolate cake, while the students who memorized the two-digit number
chose the fruit salad. The researchers who conducted the experiment saw this as an indication that when
students’ cognitive processing resources were consumed by having to memorize the seven-digit number,
they made their decision based on affective reactions and chose the chocolate cake. Their impulsive
emotional side was able to gain the upper hand in the decision making process because their rational
analytical side was preoccupied with remembering the seven-digit number. On the other hand, the
students who only had to memorize the two-digit number had more cognitive resources available to
analyze their decision more thoroughly, which enabled them to make a prudent, rational, sensible choice
of the healthier fruit salad.
Paraphrased from Baba Shiv and Alexander Fedorikhin, “Heart and Mind in Conflict: The Interplay of Affect and
Cognition in Consumer Decision Making” in Brian Quinn, "Cognitive and Affective Processes in Collection Development".
I realize the conclusion they're coming to is that your mind being occupied with other things makes you make less rational choices, but I'm still going to sit here and lol that using your brain makes you less rational (Or maybe the experiment is flawed and using your brain just makes you like cake more!).
I'm gonna go use my brain some more now. D:
emotions may influence decisions. One such experiment involved 165 undergraduate students who were
asked to decide whether they wanted one of two snacks as a reward for participating in the study: a piece
of chocolate cake with cherry topping or a fruit salad. Before choosing, the students were divided into two
groups. One group was asked to memorize a seven-digit number and the other, a two-digit number.
The results of the experiment indicated that the students who were required to memorize the
seven-digit number chose the chocolate cake, while the students who memorized the two-digit number
chose the fruit salad. The researchers who conducted the experiment saw this as an indication that when
students’ cognitive processing resources were consumed by having to memorize the seven-digit number,
they made their decision based on affective reactions and chose the chocolate cake. Their impulsive
emotional side was able to gain the upper hand in the decision making process because their rational
analytical side was preoccupied with remembering the seven-digit number. On the other hand, the
students who only had to memorize the two-digit number had more cognitive resources available to
analyze their decision more thoroughly, which enabled them to make a prudent, rational, sensible choice
of the healthier fruit salad.
Paraphrased from Baba Shiv and Alexander Fedorikhin, “Heart and Mind in Conflict: The Interplay of Affect and
Cognition in Consumer Decision Making” in Brian Quinn, "Cognitive and Affective Processes in Collection Development".
I realize the conclusion they're coming to is that your mind being occupied with other things makes you make less rational choices, but I'm still going to sit here and lol that using your brain makes you less rational (Or maybe the experiment is flawed and using your brain just makes you like cake more!).
I'm gonna go use my brain some more now. D:
.