Stress Taints Decision Logic | Psych Central News

Stress Taints Decision Logic | Psych Central News:

"Typically, we reflect on our past history to weigh the pros and cons of a choice, and then decide on the most logical option.

A new study suggests this approach may need revision if we are under cognitive stress — the stress can serve as a distracting force and cause us to make poor decisions.

...

The authors note that when we are stressed and need to make a decision, we are “more likely to bear in mind things that have been rewarding and to overlook information predicting negative outcomes.”

In other words, these findings indicate that irrational biases, which favor previous rewards, may guide our behavior during times of stress.

Source: Association for Psychological Science "