Psychological foundations of decision-making: cognitive and value-based predictors of rational and intuitive styles

The present Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that underlies nearly every domain of human behaviour. The present study examined the psychological foundations of decision-making by investigating the contributions of personal values and moral reasoning to rational and intuitive decision-making styles. A sample of 201 emerging adults completed standardised questionnaires measuring decision-making style, value orientations, and moral reasoning capacity. Correlation and regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships among these variables. Results indicated significant associations between moral reasoning and rational decision-making, and between value orientations and intuitive decision-making styles. These findings suggest that decision-making is not a purely cognitive event but is deeply embedded within an individual's moral and value framework. Theoretical and practical implications for psychological research and applied settings are discussed.