Decision-making: what is it, phases and parts of the brain involved?

Let's see what are the characteristics of decision making as a psychological phenomenon.

What do I want to study? What do I want to do? Do I want to get married or not? Do I want to have children? Each and every one of these questions has something in common: giving an answer involves making a decision about some kind of situation or aspect of our lives. or aspect of our lives. In our day-to-day lives we are constantly having to choose, decide and make decisions.

And although it may be something relatively automated in many cases, the truth is that making a decision or determination is a very complex process, given that it requires a great deal of effort and sub-processes both at a functional level and at an anatomical-brain level. In addition, there are many factors that can influence the moment of choice, and different motivations that can alter the final decision.

Throughout this article we are going to talk about decision making, different factors that can affect it and the main steps involved in making a choice.The different factors that can affect it and the main steps involved in making a choice.

Decision-making: a fundamental element in our lives.

While all of us constantly make choices and determine the course of action to follow through our own decision making, the truth is that it is not so common to stop and think about what it means that we have this ability, where it comes from or even what we are talking about.

Decision-making is the name given to the set of the set of processes through which a subject makes the determination to select one of the multiple possible options among those that are presented to him or her. possible among those presented, based on a large number of factors surrounding the subject's personal situation and the situation or element with respect to which the choice is to be made.

In other words, it is the set of mental activities that we carry out in order to give an answer in a context in which we have to choose between several alternatives.

It is one of the one of the so-called executive functionsThese are conceptualized as the set of cognitive abilities and skills through which we can be able to solve situations to which we are not accustomed, which are new to us and for which we do not have a previously established strategy or plan of action.

These allow us to adapt to the environment and survive by making us able to work with the set of internal and external information and stimuli that are available, so that we can regulate our activity to carry out our purposes.

Generally this process is carried out in order to solve some kind of problem. It is a process that can be both conscious (especially if the problem in question is relevant to us) and semi-conscious in cases where the decision to be made is automated.

It is important to bear in mind that, like the rest of the executive functions, decision making is not a process that takes place in isolation from other mental processes, but depends on the existence of other mental processes that allow us to capture, synthesize and work with the information.

Among many other related functions, choosing implies keeping in memory the available options, being able to pay attention to each one of them, and being able to pay attention to each one of them.being able to pay attention to each one of them and calculating on the basis of previous experiences and knowledge possible outcomes of the different choices. It also involves the ability to perceive environmental stimuli and one's own sensations, thoughts and beliefs, as well as the will and motivation to plan and carry out an action.

Areas of the brain involved

The decision-making process, like the other executive functions, depends mainly on our frontal lobe, depends mainly on our frontal lobe and its connections with the rest of the brain..

It is in this part of the neocortex, especially in its ventromedial part, where the mental operations necessary to make choices, elaborate predictions and evaluate the costs or benefits of taking one or another option are processed and performed.

However, the decision-making process also depends at the brain level on structures such as the insula, amygdala and basal ganglia, as well as the dorsolateral prefrontal.

Influencing factors

When making decisions, as we have already mentioned, a large number of different factors are involved. Among these factors is the subject's motivation to solve the problem or to make a choice that leads to a desirable outcome. that aims at a desirable outcomeIn other words, the fact that making a decision or not making a decision is relevant to us or generates some kind of pleasant or unpleasant consequence.

Self-esteem, sense of self-efficacy and locus of control are also key aspects when making decisions: we will make decisions more easily if we believe that our actions will have an impact or will influence the outcome of the situation, and they can be carried out with more confidence if we believe we are capable of making decisions and carrying out the actions that derive from such decisions.

Another aspect to evaluate is the expectations we have regarding the reality or the possible consequences of our choices. In addition to this, the calculation of benefits and costs of each choice can alter the type of decision we make, the calculation of the benefits and costs of each choice can alter the type of decision we make.. Likewise, we must also assess the effect of not choosing the rest of the alternatives: choosing one implies that the rest, and their possible repercussions, will not occur.

In addition, at the cognitive level, we must take into account the existence of possible biases, such as the tendency to interpret reality based on what the subject believes beforehand without considering other copines, the belief that other more expert people will always be right, the tendency to modify decisions based on what is expressed by the group or the presence of discordances between what is believed to be best and what ends up being done. All of these can alter decision making.

Emotions can also play an important role. In this sense, we must also take into account the assessment of the different possible results of our actions. And not only the emotions that elicit the possible options must be assessed, but also the emotional state of the subject at the time of making the decision: a sad or depressed person will make choices differently from what he/she would do if he/she were happy and joyful.

Another emotion that can generate problems is fear: it can generate a more hurried response or even the impossibility or difficulty of making decisions, and can also affect stress or anxiety.

Some psychopathologies and even some medical illnesses or injuries can also alter the capacity for reasoning and decision making, generally making it more difficult (either because the process is slowed down or accelerated, or because there are problems in generating alternatives).

At a more environmental level, it should be noted that there can also be there can also be a strong influence from the environment. The lessons we have learned throughout our lives, the beliefs and idiosyncrasies of our culture, the parental models we have had or the type of social network in which we move can facilitate, hinder or moderate decision making towards a specific type of action.

Phases of decision making

Making a decision is not something immediate, but involves a set of steps or mental actions. a set of steps or mental actions prior to the final choice..

First of all, in order to make a decision we have to be clear about the situation that leads us to have to make it. In other words, a situation or event that leads us to consider different options when taking action must first occur and be recognized as such. In other words, the problem must be perceived.

Once in that situation or in anticipation of it, the next step is to define it and determine which aspects are determine which aspects are relevant in order to be able to generate alternatives that can respond to the situation. that can respond to the situation, as well as to identify the degree to which they do so.

After that, and based on these criteria, we will proceed as far as possible to elaborate the maximum number of possible solutions or alternatives for action. At this point only alternatives are generated, although in general we also discard the strangest and unfeasible ones as we do so.

Of all these options, our mind leads us to evaluate those that seem most appropriate and viable, trying to make a prediction of their usefulness and functionality and what would be and what would be the possible results of the different options. Risks and benefits are calculated.

After that, we proceed to choose one, which will then be evaluated in more depth before being carried out. Subsequently, the decision itself is made, something that can lead to its implementation in reality (and a subsequent evaluation of the results and the comparison between what was achieved and what was expected).

Bibliographical references:

• Naqvi, N.; Shiv, B.; Bechara, A. (2006). The role of emotion in decision making: a cognitive neuroscience perspective. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 15 (5): 260-264.
• Verdejo-García, A. and Bechara, A. (2010). Neuropsychology of executive functions. Psicothema, 22 (2): 227-235.