Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article explores decision making from the perspective of neuroscience, economics and human behavior. Impulsive decisions activate primitive brain areas linked to immediate reward, while thoughtful decisions involve the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and planning. The brain reward system, mediated by dopamine and mesocorticolimbic pathways, strongly influences the repetition of behaviors motivated by pleasurable stimuli. In line with neuroscience, behavioral economics highlights the influence of two systems of thought: System 1, fast and emotional, and System 2, slow and analytical. Stress and fatigue favor System 1, generating impulsive decisions that increase the risk of debt. In Brazil, according to Serasa Experian (2025), more than 77 million people are in debt, with public servants and military personnel presenting worrying rates, which compromises their professional performance and mental health. Stressful activities, such as public security, increase disorders such as anxiety and depression, impacting decision-making capacity and leading to harmful financial behaviors. Given this, neuroscience highlights the interconnection between emotions, hormones and the environment in financial decisions. Institutional financial education programs based on neurobehavior are essential to strengthen self-control, improve planning and promote emotional stability, contributing to the quality of life and professional effectiveness of military police officers.
Author: Elléa Zych De Souza
Language: English
Subfield: General Decision Sciences
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413056567