Decisions, Decisions

How do you make decisions?

When presented with two options, I predict that we will take the one that will bring us the most pleasure or cause us the least amount of pain.

The other night I had the option of eating bean and spinach soup or going to my favorite restaurant to eat. Somewhere in me, the decision was made almost instantaneously without thinking. But logically, it looks like this:

Option 1: Bean and Spinach soup
- Pleasure from Eating: Fairly Low
- Pleasure from Saving Money by Eating at Home: Moderate

Option 2: Eat at Favorite Restaurant
- Pleasure from Eating: Really High!
- Pleasure from Paying the Bill: Fairly Low

The Fairly Low’s cancel each other, leaving the Really High to beat out the Moderate. Eating out wins!

Test it out for yourself. Think of any scenario and prove to me that you didn’t simply pursue pleasure or avoid pain. Leave it in the comments.