YEAR 1 | ISSUE 4 | OCTOBER, 2012
26
Making a decision and regretting it Right from childhood days, my parents tried to instil in me many life lessons that they themselves had learned the hard way. We too do the same to our kids so that we can protect them from regrettable but perhaps otherwise avoidable experiences. However, we learn, albeit unfortunately, that they must usually find out the best way through the school of hard knocks as much as we try to protect our children from their misconceived or premature decisions. Thus, what we do at home forms part of the school of growth and learning at home. In fact, both schools of thought coexist: Experts teach lessons to newbies and thus influence the latter’s potential decisions and on the other hand, people are also willing to be adventurous with their decision and risk the fate of an outcome. There can be a long debate on the merits and shortcomings of both ways of taking decisions. But, one thing is true: we take decisions and many times, regret it. I recall several of my decisions taken at different stages (and of course, there are more to follow!). Needless to mention, few of them are quite regrettable. Making decisions is one of the most difficult tasks people face. Why it is so? It’s probably because we have multiple choices available before taking any decision. If there is only one choice available before taking a decision and even if the outcome is bad, we would not grumble about it. But when the number of choices grow in myriad ways and directions, the difficulty increases exponentially. Here are some of the non-scientific decision making ways that I have come across:
times, random decisions can be even better than well-thought and planned decisions. If we have to choose a movie to watch tonight, and we don't have a good idea, we can go for one that begins with our favourite letter.
effort. If this resource is exhausted by one activity, our mental capacity may be severely hampered in any other unrelated activity.
and decide step by step. However, it is easier said than done. And most of the times, we don't have a clear-cut understanding of the sequence of outcomes that will inevitably happen in future. A fundamental rule in decision making is to figure out the "opportunity cost" of a decision before it is made, not after. It is a concept taken from economics. For example, if a person has, say, 25 rupees and has a choice to buy between coke and a magazine. If he chooses to buy the coke, he won't have any money left to Flipping a coin: It may be a useful tool buy the magazine. Thus, if he uses his money for taking the decisions when there is no or to enjoy a coke, he cannot then allow himself very little idea about the future. For to feel bad for not being able to read the example: getting married; even though there magazine. are billions of examples around, we never But, for normal people, this opportunity cost know what will happen to our conjugal life. stuff is too complex a thing to rationally calculate and implement while taking a Decision based on superstition: At decision. The human mind, despite being a times, superstition could be a means to splendid device, is nevertheless, not without making good decisions. If a black cat runs its own limits. Research has focused on a across the road on our way; sometimes it particular mental limitation, which has to do may be wise to turn back. I know, many of with our ability to use a mental trait known my friends will not agree on the cat's as executive function. When you focus on a example. But the point I want to make is to act according to our hunch. Hunches can be specific task for an extended period of time or on choosing between two options, you are just as valuable as knowledge. flexing your executive function muscles. Random decision: People say that, at Both thought processes require conscious
We have so far sketched out a capricious approach of taking decisions as well as the amount of influence that minor decisions can potentially make to a major one. I have made several decisions that I regretted afterward. I think all of us do the same. Many people emphasize the fact that there is no point to regret. It may cause stress to our brain and may hamper the future decisions. However, we can't stop regretting if the decision we took was through a conscious effort. On the other hand, some make decisions to only regret it later. Does it mean that we should take a non-scientific route while arriving at some particular decision? Because if we make the bad decision by some arbitrary and capricious method (such as flipping a coin), it is much easier to dump the decision and move on. What if we move on?
The problem is not only with too many choices available while making a single Decision based on experience: There is a decision, but also multiple associated problem with this kind of decision making. If decisions to be made at the same period. the previous decision turned out to be a Imagine, for a moment that you are facing a good one, then fine; but it sucks if it was a situation of making very difficult decision bad one. about which of the two job offers to accept. One position offers good pay and job I was wondering if there is any appropriate security, but is pretty boring; whereas the way of taking decisions. There is in fact! It other job is really interesting and offers says: First, identify what decision you have reasonable pay, but has a questionable job to make; then narrow down your choices security. Obviously, you will find yourself in a dilemma in opting for a particular offer. At this point, if you have some other decision to make, then your decision to accept a particular job offer is likely to be influenced by the third seemingly unrelated decision. Hence, it is said that if you are exhausted by making several minor decisions, you should avoid taking any major decision for some time. Our stressed brain may not have much space and energy in its cranium to make any important decision.
I believe that most of you may have faced dilemmas while deciding on major issues particularly with too many choices available. What, in your opinion, would be the best way to take a major decision?
By: Dr. Deependra Kumar Jha