I have a big decision to make in the next few weeks, and as such I’ve been thinking not so much about the decision itself, but about how it is that people make decisions, in an attempt to make sure that my decision making process leads me to the best outcome. (I’ve clearly been spending too much time with auditors). I have noticed (and been told by my wife) that I have a tendency to take the first option that comes along, even if it isn’t always the best one. Part of the reason for this is that I usually hate the decision making process itself, and would rather get it over with even if it means  buyers remorse later on. To that end I want to make sure I don’t take the first option simply because it is  first, however I also don’t want to fall into the trap of  leaving doors open just for the sake of more options.

There is also the problem is judging quality when considering options. We as humans are remarkably bad at judging quality, and frequently rely on superficial ways of judging quality. Have you ever heard the phrase “you get what you pay for”? That’s a perfect example of how we use something superficial (the price) to judge quality. If you want more proof, people apparently get more relief from more expensive placebos.

Then there’s Robert Cialdini’s  six ways in which people are influenced. (They are Reciprocation, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Liking, and Scarcity). Do I really want to make a decision based on what I think other people will think of that decision? Is liking someone a reason to go for their suggestion or not?