The Impact of Emotions on Decision-making

Integral Emotion vs. Incidental Emotion

Integral emotions are directly related to the decision-making process, while incidental emotions are unrelated to the decision at hand. Both types of emotions can bias decisions by influencing the evaluation of options and the individual's mood and cognitive processes.

Explanation

Integral emotions are emotions that are directly related to the decision-making process. These emotions are typically elicited by the options or outcomes of a decision. For example, if someone is considering buying a new car and feels excitement or joy when thinking about a particular model, that emotion is an integral emotion. Integral emotions can bias decisions by influencing the evaluation of options and the overall decision-making process.

Incidental emotions, on the other hand, are emotions that are unrelated to the decision at hand. These emotions are typically unrelated to the options or outcomes of a decision and can be caused by external factors. For example, if someone is feeling sad or angry due to an unrelated event and then makes a decision about buying a car, that emotion is an incidental emotion. Incidental emotions can bias decisions by influencing the individual's mood and cognitive processes, which can indirectly affect decision-making.

Both integral and incidental emotions can bias decisions. Integral emotions can bias decisions by influencing the evaluation of options. For example, if someone is feeling excited about a particular option, they may overestimate its benefits and make a biased decision. Incidental emotions can bias decisions by influencing the individual's mood and cognitive processes. For example, if someone is feeling sad, they may have a negative outlook and make a biased decision based on their current emotional state.