Instructions For Decision-Making Table For This Assignment ✓ Solved

Instructionsdecision Making Tablefor This Assignment You Will Apply A

Instructions decision-making table for this assignment, you will apply analytical reasoning and identify strategies for self-assessment to reconsider your decision-making patterns. You will need to complete a table with four columns to complete this task. In the first column, you will provide two personal examples where you acted in accordance with one or more of the patterns of irrational or unethical decision-making. In the second column, you will identify which pattern(s) of irrational or unethical decision-making applies to your situations. In the third column, you will identify any characteristics of egocentrism or sociocentrism, as well as any pathological tendencies of mind, involved in your thought process. Finally, in the fourth column, share how you could have applied the keys to sound decision-making to approach the situation more rationally.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Effective decision-making is a fundamental aspect of personal and professional development. However, human cognition is often subject to biases, irrational patterns, and unethical tendencies that can cloud judgment and lead to suboptimal outcomes. Recognizing these patterns within oneself is crucial for fostering rational, ethical, and effective decision processes. This paper examines two personal examples of decision-making that reflect irrational or unethical tendencies, identifies the underlying psychological patterns involved, and explores how applying sound decision-making principles could have improved the outcomes.

Personal Examples of Irrational Decision-Making

My first example involves a situation at work where I chose to dismiss a team member’s concern about a project deadline. Instead of objectively assessing the validity of the concern, I dismissed it because I believed my judgment was superior and resistant to criticism. This is an instance of egocentric bias, where my self-centered perspective overshadowed rational evaluation of the situation. The decision was driven by a desire to maintain authority and avoid admitting uncertainty, which colored my judgment negatively.

The second example concerns my personal finances, where I made an impulsive purchase based on emotional gratification rather than rational analysis. I convinced myself that I needed the item to feel better about a stressful period in my life, ignoring the real impact on my budget. This exemplifies a form of emotional decision-making influenced by pathologies such as impulsiveness and an inability to delay gratification, which clouded my rational capacity.

Identification of Irrational and Unethical Patterns

In the first example, the irrational pattern corresponds to egocentric bias — the tendency to interpret information in ways favorable to oneself and to overlook alternative perspectives. The unethical aspect manifests through a failure to consider the team member’s genuine concerns, potentially violating principles of fairness and collaborative decision-making.

In the second example, the pattern involves impulsiveness, a common cognitive distortion where immediate emotional rewards override rational considerations. This impulsivity may also be linked to a pathological tendency for emotional dysregulation, impairing logical assessment of consequences.

Characteristics of Egocentrism, Sociocentrism, and Pathology

The thought process in the first example displays egocentrism, characterized by self-centered evaluation and an overestimation of one’s own judgment. It also reflects sociocentric tendencies when I disregarded team dynamics and the collective good for personal authority.

In the second example, emotional impulsiveness shows a pathological tendency toward emotional dysregulation and difficulty delaying gratification, which undermines rational thought and long-term planning.

Applying Keys to Sound Decision-Making

To approach my decision-making more rationally, I could have employed several strategies. First, practicing reflective thinking and emotional regulation would have helped mitigate impulsive reactions. Developing awareness of cognitive biases through training could have increased my capacity to objectively evaluate team concerns, thus reducing egocentric bias.

Additionally, adopting decision-making tools like cost-benefit analysis and seeking diverse perspectives would have minimized the influence of emotional and impulsive tendencies. Cultivating a mindset of ethical awareness—considering fairness, integrity, and collective interests—could have guided me toward more responsible choices.

Moreover, utilizing structured decision-making frameworks such as the DECIDE model (Define, Explore, Consider, Identify, Decide, Evaluate) could have provided a systematic approach to evaluating my choices and their potential impacts, promoting rationality and ethical considerations.

Conclusion

Understanding and recognizing one's decision-making patterns is essential for personal growth and effective leadership. By analyzing personal examples where irrational and unethical tendencies surfaced, I have identified key psychological biases and tendencies—such as egocentrism and impulsiveness—that influence decisions. Applying reflective strategies and decision-making tools can help mitigate these biases, leading to more rational, ethical, and effective decisions. Continuous self-assessment and commitment to ethical principles are vital for ongoing improvement in decision-making competence.

References

Aronson, E. (2019). The social animal. Worth Publishers.

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Bazerman, M. H., & Moore, D. A. (2012). Judgment in managerial decision making. Wiley.

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science, 185(4157), 1124–1131.

Epstein, S. (2014). The new unconscious. American Psychological Association.

Gilligan, C. (2015). In a different voice: Psychological theory and women’s development. Harvard University Press.

Lewin, K. (2017). Principles of topological psychology. Harper & Brothers.

Gigerenzer, G. (2014). Risk savvy: How to make good decisions. Penguin Books.

Schwartz, B. (2011). The paradox of choice: Why more is less. HarperCollins.

Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. Yale University Press.