International journal of advanced smart convergence

The Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication (한국인터넷방송통신학회)
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Does Happiness Always Lead to Reliance on Feelings in Decision Making?

  • Moon-Yong Kim (College of Business, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)
  • Received : 2023.11.04
  • Accepted : 2023.11.18
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that happy moods are known to promote feeling-based processing, whereas sad moods promote reason-based processing. The current research investigates a boundary condition for the effects of a happy mood on feeling-based decision making. This research proposes that the level of control (low vs. high) one exercises in a happy situation can promote a greater reliance on feelings (vs. reasons) in making judgments and decisions. Specifically, we hypothesize that (1) a happy individual in a situation where control level is low (vs. high) will be more likely to choose a cognitively (vs. affectively) superior option (hypothesis 1), and (2) a happy individual in a situation where control level is low (vs. high) will exert reason- (vs. feeling-) based processing (hypothesis 2). Consistent with the hypothesis 1, the results of two experiments show that happy individuals are more likely to choose cognitively versus affectively superior options in a situation where control level is low (vs. high). Moreover, the mediation analysis confirms that happy individuals are more likely to rely on cognitive, reason-based decision making when their control level is low, which supports the hypothesis 2.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund of 2023.

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