Making DecisionsErica StahlFall 2013

Critical Thinking

Involuntary Decision Making• “Involuntary decision making is a learned pattern of

acting, thinking or feeling.”• “Involuntary decision making is decision making made

out of habit, reflex, or repetition.”• “We are not born wit these patterns, we learn them

over time”

Voluntary Decision Making• Generally more difficult, takes longer and is more

frustrating. • Decision maker examines criteria such as: the

decision-making situation, the desired end-goals, the people involved, the occasion, and consciously applies his/her brain processing skills to these criteria in order to make the best possible decision. • When making a voluntary decision, a person can be

influenced by: creditable sources, authority figures, one’s peers, groupthink and interpersonal needs for affections, inclusion and control.

Credible sources • People we trust and look to for help, guidance, or

direction in making a decision. • May include good friends, members of our family, or

other trustworthy people.

Authority Figures • When confronted with the need to make a critical

decision, we often turn to those we consider to be authority figures for help.

Peer Influence • Exists when a person is motivated to make a decision

based primarily on the influence if those he/she wants to be identified with and be accepted by. • Can be VERY influential. • The strength of peer pressure rests with the desire to

conform with others.

Groupthink• Occurs when individuals within a group desire

cohesiveness and harmony above the critical evaluation of the group’s discussion. • One of the most common forms of groupthink occurs

within the context of marriage.

Interpersonal Needs Theory• This is the need for affection, inclusion and control. • Need for affection is usually the first interpersonal

need to appear in our lives. • Need for inclusion is the need to be part of a group

or organization.• Need for control is the need to exert some real

power or influence over decision-making in a relationship.

Decision Making and Probability• “Probability is associated with a high degree of likelihood that a

conclusion is valid. In critical thinking, probability is how likely a target audience believes something will become a reality”~ Austin J. Freeley

• “At any given moment we make our estimate of probabilities on the basis of the evidence available to us at that time. And, we can never reach more than a highly probable conclusion for ALL the facts can never be known.” ~ Ruby and Yarber

• “People make decisions! To be sure, people sometimes make stupid, uninformed decisions. They make highly informed decisions that sometimes turn out badly. They can learn to do a better job of making decisions” ~ Reike and Sillars

• Very few decisions are made with absolute certainty because complete knowledge about all the alternatives is seldom possible. • Good decisions come from the disciplines thinking. • Good decisions are based on the values and

perceptions of the decision-maker and include carefully considered alternatives and options along with periodic reassessments of the decision and its effects.

Erica Stahl Fall 2013

Communication Studies 104