Work

Intolerance of uncertainty predicts indecisiveness and safety behavior in real-life decision making: Results from an experience sampling study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In decision making, intolerance of uncertainty (IU) may be linked to safety behavior, which could ironically maintain IU and, thus, foster indecisiveness. In a smartphone-based experience sampling study, 247 participants described their real-life decisions six times per day and rated (a) their situational indecisiveness, (b) decision characteristics, (c) situational IU, and (d) problematic safety behaviors. Participants higher in dispositional IU reported more indecisiveness and engaged in more problematic safety behavior across measurements. The same relationships were observed with situational IU at the level of individual measurements. Engaging in more problematic safety behaviors during the first days predicted indecisiveness on the last day, mediated by IU. The results demonstrate the real-life relevance of the relationship between IU, indecisiveness, and safety behavior.

Source: Journal of Research in Personality

DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104490

Authors: Helmut Appel, Julia Krasko, Maike Luhmann, Alexander L. Gerlach

Institutions: University of Cologne, Ruhr University Bochum

Language: English

Topic: Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics

Subfield: General Decision Sciences

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,730

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Universität zu Köln