Emotions and rationality can work together as hybrid process in decision- making activities in uncertain environmentsHuman Computer Interaction

Introduction

This article is an argumentative essay to discuss whether the emotions and rationality can work together as a hybrid process in the decision-making activities within uncertain environment. In the field of decision-making studies, there are never-ending discussions on whether rational decision-making process really can work in the uncertain business environments (Hales et al., 2016), especially in the current time when the decision makers are challenged to make decisions under limited period of time with limited information on hand (Schwartz, 2015). Under this circumstance, researches indicate rational decision making is not realistic in the uncertain environment, but the alternative decision-making approaches, such as intuition-based decision-making (Julmi, 2019), heuristics decision-making approach (Khader et al., 2011) and group decision making (Liu, Liao & Yang, 2015), have been considered to be useful. Research from Li, Ashkanasy and Ahlstrom (2014), however, considered emotion of the decision makers is an important factor to consider when it comes to rational decision making under uncertain environments. This essay would then explore whether Li et al.’s (2014) viewpoints are valid and whether emotions and rationality can work together as hybrid process in the decision-making under uncertainties. As for details, the essay would firstly discuss the role emotion plays in decision-making process, and then evaluate how emotions and rationality work together in making rational decisions. Finally, the essay would also propose some different opinions around the argument, and make conclusions on this argument.

Arguments

As per the literature review made by Li et al. (2014) around the role emotion plays in decision-making processes, most of the former research consider emotions are linking with irrationality of decision making. Angie, Connelly, Waples and Kligyte (2011) considered individuals’ emotions may influence decision-makers’ judgments towards the information they perceive, therefore their judgments will be more subjective rather than being objective if they let emotions take the lead in the decision-making process. Summers and Duxbury (2012) found emotions have strong influences on individuals’ behaviours and thinking patterns. This means the decision makers may have different decision-making behaviours with different emotions (Summers & Duxbury, 2012). Lerner, Li, Valdesolo and Kassam (2015, p.803)

even described the emotions and rationality as the “mind” and the “brain” in decision-making, and brain means logic thinking whereas emotion means intuitions and feelings, which are irrational. Therefore, literatures consider emotions are inking with irrationality in decision making mainly because they consider emotions represents feelings and intuitions of the decision makers, and will only lead to subjective judgment of the decision scenario, which is the opposite to being logic and sense-making in decision-making scenario. All in all, emotions are not suitable for decision-making under uncertainties.

The above finding has been challenged by Li et al.’s (2014) article. Li et al. (2014) considered emotions are indispensable to rational decision-making. There are mainly two reasons behind such finding from Li et al.’s (2014). First, decision makers cannot avoid the influences of emotions, therefore no matter what decision-making approaches the decision makers are using, their emotions will play a role in the process (Li et al., 2014). Second, in the uncertain environments, the lack of considering emotions will make the decisions lack rationality (Li et al., 2014). Therefore, from Li et al.’s (2014) research, emotions are necessary in the decision under uncertainties, and from this perspective the article then proposed the hybrid process model that involves the emotions as infusion of the decision process, as well as cognitive calculation as rationality decision process. In summary, the emotions and rationality can then work together in the decision-making process in dealing with the decisions under uncertainties. This essay would then discuss both rationales to support why emotions are important part in decision-making in uncertain environments.

To begin with, Li et al. (2014) considered individuals are unlikely to completely wipe out the influences of their emotions in making decisions. This happens even for the most important decisions among the smartest people. For example, Bachkirov (2015) found many of proposals for large scale merger and acquisition are approved in the morning, which is when the senior managers feel relax and happy. Many of the layoff decisions, on the contrary, are made in the late afternoon, when people are feeling fatigue and tired (Bachkirov, 2015). Bachkirov (2015) found not only the senior managers, but also the government officers are making decisions that are influenced by their emotions. From such phenomenon, Bachkirov (2015) then considered in order to make rational decisions, the decision makers may not necessarily need to eliminate their emotions and make decisions purely based on facts, instead they could try to understand their emotions and make decisions knowing their emotions are influencing. Malti, Keller and Buchmann (2013) suggested the decision makers can make decisions when they are dominated by positive or neutral emotions rather than

negative emotions. For example, when the decision makers are happy or calm, they could trust the decisions they make, but if the decision makers are very sad or angry, they should avoid making important decisions because these decisions are unlikely to be rational (Malti et al., 2013). To summarise, decision makers cannot avoid making decisions without the influence of emotions, what matters is decision makers should aware their emotions are influencing their decision-making, and avoid making any decisions when they are dominate by negative emotions such as sadness and anger.

Besides, Li et al. (2014) also considered without the consideration of emotions, the decision makers are very difficult to make rational decisions under uncertainties. Calabretta, Gemser and Wijnberg (2017) studied many decision makers who like to use intuitions in important decision-making scenarios, and they found in many decision scenarios the decision makers do not have sufficient time to judge all information around the decision, to use intuitions in those scenarios usually bring better decision outcomes than using rational decision-making approach. As stated by Volz and Hertwig (2016), when decision makers are making decisions under uncertainties, emotional stability is an important factor to ensure rationality of the decision. The decision makers with low emotional stability are not likely to remain rational under pressure, therefore, their decision outcomes will be very likely not ideal (Volz & Hertwig, 2016). When the individual decision makers have stable emotions, they will then have a better judgment of the uncertainties, and face the challenge to make the decisions as rational as possible (Volz & Hertwig, 2016). To summarise, in order to make rational decisions under uncertain environment, it is important for the decision makers to have stable emotions, otherwise the decision makers may not be able to objectively evaluate the uncertainties, and therefore the decisions will then lack rationality.

Combining the above discussions, it can be identified that former literatures have different findings about the link between emotions and rationality of decisions. This essay holds emotions should work together with rationality in decision-making process, especially when the decision makers are facing with scenarios with uncertainties. Decision makers should remain stable emotions, and make sure they are not making decisions when they are dominate by negative emotions such as sadness and anger. Only by doing that the decision makers can then be able to make rational decisions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article is an argumentative essay to discuss whether the emotions and rationality can work together as a hybrid process in the decision-making activities within uncertain environment. The essay begins with a review of relevant literatures that consider emotions are irrational. The literatures consider emotions are inking with irrationality in decision making mainly because they consider emotions represents feelings and intuitions of the decision makers, and will only lead to subjective judgment of the decision scenario, which is the opposite to being logic and sense-making in decision-making scenario. Nevertheless, the essay also found from some research that the emotions and rationality can then work together in the decision-making process in dealing with the decisions under uncertainties. The first supportive argument made by this essay was decision makers cannot avoid making decisions without the influence of emotions, what matters is decision makers should aware their emotions are influencing their decision-making, and avoid making any decisions when they are dominate by negative emotions such as sadness and anger. The other supportive argument links to the emotional stability of decision makers. The essay found in order to make rational decisions under uncertain environment, it is important for the decision makers to have stable emotions, otherwise the decision makers may not be able to objectively evaluate the uncertainties, and therefore the decisions will then lack rationality. This essay holds emotion and rationality can work together as a hybrid process in decision-making under uncertainties. Decision makers should remain stable emotions, and make sure they are not making decisions when they are dominate by negative emotions such as sadness and anger.

References

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