10.4: Voluntary Decision-Making

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Page ID: 67208

Jim Marteney
Los Angeles Valley College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)

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In the voluntary decision-making mode, the decision-maker examines criteria such as: the decision-making situation, the desired end-goals, the people involved, the occasion, and consciously applies his or her brain-processing skills to these criteria, in order to make the best possible decision. When making a voluntary decision, the person applies their cognitive skills to a problem in an attempt to arrive at a quality decision or design an effective argument.

The voluntary method of decision-making is generally more challenging and time consuming. This method of decision-making allows a person to examine all of the information available, all of the decision alternatives known, and all of the decision consequences they can within the time limits they have before he or she freely selects one of the alternatives.