“I Know What I Like” – Indecisiveness Is Unrelated to Behavioral Indicators of Evaluation Difficulties

Abstract

Indecisiveness, the subjective inability to make satisfying decisions, is an individual difference trait that may impede effective actions. Mechanisms underlying indecisiveness are largely unknown. In four studies, we tested the prediction that indicators of evaluation difficulty were associated with indecisiveness in simple evaluations. Across studies, indecisiveness was measured via self-report while evaluation difficulties were derived behaviorally from three indicators: difficulty distinguishing between similar evaluation objects (i.e., standard deviation of evaluation ratings), evaluation duration (reaction times), and implicit evaluations (evaluative priming effect) using familiar everyday objects. Study 1 (N = 151) was based on attractiveness evaluations of portraits. Studies 2a (N = 201) and 2b (N = 211) used chocolate as evaluation objects and manipulated to what extent the evaluations were equivalent to a decision. In Study 3 (N = 80) evaluations were measured implicitly through evaluative priming using food pictures. Contrary to our predictions, indecisiveness showed no reliable association to any indicator of evaluation difficulty, regardless of type of evaluation object, equivalence of evaluation and decision, and whether evaluation difficulty was based on explicit or implicit evaluations. All null findings were supported by Bayes factors. These counterintuitive results are a first step toward investigating evaluation processes as potential mechanisms underlying indecisiveness, showing that for both explicit and implicit measurements, indecisiveness is not characterized by difficulties when evaluating familiar everyday objects.

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“…Indecisiveness is correlated with certain personality characteristics, such as low self-confidence, low self-esteem, helplessness, and a sense of contradiction and frustration ( Salomone, 1982 ; Germeijs and De Boeck, 2002 ; Öztemel, 2014 ; Lo Cascio et al, 2016 ). This premise implies that indecisive individuals often feel anxious and fearful when facing opportunities and choices, so they are typically labeled as undecided in making all sorts of life decisions ( Gati et al, 2011 ), and indecisiveness may impede effective actions ( Appel et al, 2021 ).…”

Emotional clarity in daily life is associated with reduced indecisiveness and greater goal pursuit.

“…Research has also yet to examine the associations between emotional clarity and indecisiveness, despite affect-as-information theory suggesting the importance of understanding one's emotions in effective decision making. Though most have trouble making decisions at some points in their lives (i.e., moments of indecision), people who are high in indecisiveness (a trait involving a generalized difficulty making decisions independent of decision content; Appel et al, 2021) may experience decision-making difficulty that disrupts functioning (e.g., disturbances in activities of daily life, occupation, relationships). Indecisiveness is a symptom of major depressive disorder, which has been characterized by diminished emotional clarity (Thompson et al, 2015).…”