Netflix and chill: Intuitive decision making predicts satisfaction and happiness with real-world choices

Abstract

Abstract Which approach is better for making everyday decisions: intuitive or analytic thinking? Dual process theories of reasoning and decision-making propose that System 1 is intuitive, fast, and automatic, while System 2 is systematic, slow, and analytical. Previous research has highlighted the cognitive biases associated with System 1 and the rational performance of System 2. However, these processes have not been tested on real-life, everyday decisions to assess how accurately they predict satisfaction and happiness with the decision. In two experiments, participants made the choices of a meal to order and a movie to see and measured their use of System 1 or System 2 processes during the choice. They rated their satisfaction and happiness with the choice directly after deciding, and several days later after the decision outcome had been experienced. System 1 use was associated with increased satisfaction and happiness with the decision both immediately and after the decision outcome had been experienced, and also with how good the outcome of the decision was. System 2 use was largely not associated with satisfaction and happiness. System 1 intuitive thought is more effective for everyday choices if one’s goal is to be happy and satisfied.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 1 citations exist upstream.

Papers that cite the same references — the relational fallback while embeddings are still backfilling.