This has been a really fun blog to write and research. There are just so many articles and studies that I had to narrow it down to be a readable length. I would like to suggest reading http://books.google.com/books/about/Emotion_and_irrationality.html?id=RHPGZwEACAAJ to better understand emotions in females its been an eye opener.
Didnt your momma always tell you think before you speak? My god who taught you that?
In the last 6 motnhs Ive watched many people, friends, and girls ive dated make very irrational and emotion based decisions, freak out, and just all around let their emotions get the best of them inevitably biting them in the ass. This is just my way to talk about how I see it. Ive done a good amount of research on both sides as to not be bias, and I will touch a little on both...
Decision-making is a cognitive process where the outcome is a choice between alternatives. We often have different preferences as to our preferred, approach, varying between thinking and feeling.
Logical decision-making When we use logic to make decisions, we seek to exclude emotions, using only rational methods, and perhaps even mathematical tools. The foundation of such decisions is the principle of utility.
Emotional decision-making There is a whole range of decision-making that uses emotion, depending on the degree of logic that is included in the process.
A totally emotional decision is typically very fast. This is because it takes time (at least 0.1 seconds) for the rational cortex to get going. This is the reactive (and largely subconscious) decision-making that you encounter in heated arguments or when faced with immediate danger. These type of decisions override logic.
So basically it comes down to this. When we are faced with decisions we have to roads to take. Logic or Emotion. Women are famously known for making decisions based on emotions. Guys base decisions more on logic. This is not opinion. This is fact. Decisions based on emotions often end up in inconclusive situations, arguments, fights, break ups, job loss, sleeplessness and much much more.
How many times have you been in an argument with a loved one and said something you dont mean? Especially you drunk girls, damn. Alcohol+Estrogen=Run Like Hell. Well this is example one of emotional based decision making. These types of outburst can make a bad situation worse, or even worse, make a situation that isnt that bad, bad. This leads to a deeper fight, a deeper issue, and all around worse problems. I promise you hearing the words "I hate you" "Your a Loser" or anything along those lines from someone that loves you is not a good feeling. Let me tell you from experience. I dont give a shit if you mean it or not, it'll be remembered forever. Obviously you dont hate that person, but you just couldnt control your emotions long enough to think about what you said before hand? Think about that....no ability to control an immediate reaction. This is the type of thing that ends you up in jail or lonely forever. Laugh now, be incarcerated later.
Guys, how many times have you been in an arguement and when its all over you thought to yourself. What the f#ck just happened? Or when you know you have a point, its so easy to see, you lay it out there. What happens? SUBJECT CHANGE! Ive been in conversations for hours specifically in the last 6 months that I often wondered if that girl even was listening to the same conversation. Next thing you know, this girl is telling YOU shit about YOU that YOU didnt know. (Thx ron white) How about this lil game in a argument. Guy:This shit is ridiculous Girl:Oh now IM ridiculous? Guy:I never said that, I said THIS situation is ridiculous, dont put words in my mouth Girl:Im just saying what you said Guy:No you saying what you heard. Sound familar? Sorry girls you only hear what you wanna hear. There is a reason that every stand up comedian has a bit about his wife or girlfriend. Cus NOTHING is funnier than hearing a common situation that every man in the world has dealt with. When your emotions take over, there is no stopping you. I love you babygirls, but I hate your crazy spells.
So you know Im not playing the bias game, I did some extra research and I do have some interesting thoughts on emotional based decision making. It says some scientists argue that all decisions are made emotionally. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio studied people who had received brain injuries that had one specific effect: to damage that part of the brain where emotions are generated. So basically, everything about them was normal, they just had no ability to feel emotion. Surprisingly enough, these people had an incredibly hard time making any decisions. They could logically describe what they should be doing. However had an extremely hard time deciding where to live, what to eat, and so on and so forth. So that would tell me, that every decision has some emotion behind it. Right? Lets move on.
Always an emotional decision?
So at the point of decision, emotions are very important for choosing. In fact even with what we believe are logical decisions, the very point of choice is arguably always based on emotion. We talk about decisions that feel or seem right. When logical decisions are wrong, we will often feel that this is so. Emotions are perhaps signals from the subconscious that tell us a lot about what we really choose no matter how we choose it.
WTF is my subconscious in charge?
An even stranger factor is research where the subject's brain was wired up to recorders and the subject was asked to simply press a red button at any time. The notion was that if the conscious mind was in charge, then that part of the brain would be seen to change first, an if the decision started in the subconscious, then electrical activity in that part of the brain would work first. And the answer was...that the subconscious started activity first. The shocking conclusion is that the subconscious is in charge of the bus, and that we are living an illusion of conscious choice. (<<<---AMAZING). As emotions also stem from the subconscious, then this makes it even more likely that decisions have a strong emotional influence.
Moving on to Plato
Plato suggests that there are three parts to the human soul (or three souls) that guide human behavior. These are the rational, the spirited and the appetizing souls. The rational soul is the logical decision-making part of human beings, the linked site equates it with the mind or the intellect. The appetizing soul equates to emotions or desires. He sees these forces as constantly in conflict with the rational soul. These attributes are often equated with irrational behavior.
Bringing them together, rationality is using reason and intellect to weigh options on the path to achieving a stated goal. When emotions and desires cloud an individual's ability to think logically and intellectually weigh options, that individual can be understood as acting irrationally. This would make a lot of sense as to why there is such a difference in men and women as far as rationality vs irrationality.
Basically the line between emotional based responses and logic based responses is very blurry, however in all cases. There is only one common ingredient. Estrogen.
"I was lost Brian
and im still lost
but i feel so much better"
-Tiesto
Oh BTW Here is an old trick for all of you
If you want someone else to make a decision, first find how emotional or logical they prefer to be in that process, and follow their normal preferences. Babysit their emotions, guiding them to a point where at the moment of decision they will be more favorably disposed towards your ideas.
