Question

Reference: "Guess, C. (2004). Decision Making in Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures"

(This question has two parts, ANSWER THEM SEPARATELY.) Guess largely treats decision making as logical and conscious; at least, that appears to be the assumption.

a. By cutting and pasting sentences from the article, provide three quotes confirming my claim. For each quote, paraphrase its content in your own words.

b. Personally, how does your culture affect your complex problem solving. List and briefly describe three examples. Be sure to connect what your culture believes and how you proceed in making a decision. Remember some of us are more collectivistic and some of us are more individualistic; allow your individual uniqueness to reflect in your answer.

Answer 1

Answer for A -

Decision making involves not only the choice of one alternative, but is related to the generation of possibly relevant alternatives. - This emphasizes the point that one has to not only choose the most logical answer to one's own question, but also to consciously think about the possible alternatives and identify which one fits one's own interests. Thus, it becomes a process of critically thinking and identifying various assumptions, thinking through various possibilities and then making a conscious choice for oneself.

Many descriptive decision making models (see Lipshitz, 1993) describe the decision-making process not as a single act but as a process that is embedded in other cognitive processes - This highlights that one has to think about the problem statement in detail, think logically and consciously about the facts, figures and resources that one needs in order to make a decisions and then indulge in activities such as reading, talking to people etc. to get the required information.

He will evaluate the different alternatives, compare them with each other, reject bad alternatives, and finally make a decision about what to study -- probably even up to the day he has to register for his first class. - This statement talks about how consciously John evaluates various options, their pros and cons in a logical manner, identifies the bad alternatives and then makes a conscious decision.

Answer for B -

Culture affects complex problem solving and decision making to a great extent which adds to the complexities of taking a tough decisions. E.g. in academics, there is a lot of societal and cultural pressure to choose only specific types of subjects/ careers which may at times be, against one's own interests. In such a situation, an individual may either succumb to the pressure or go ahead with one's pwn choice. However, in both the processes, there is a conscious and logical decision making process involved. In both, the individual has to think about the the various options available, what one is good at and has a higher probability of doing well (at times vocational guidance is taken in order to make an informed decision), employment opportunities available, prospects, pros and cons of going for or against societal demands and then making a decision; are the logical steps in the same.