Directions Toward a Meta-Process Model of Decision Making: Cognitive and Behavioral Models of Change

Abstract

Hundreds of partially unique decision-making models, primarily differing by context, currently coexist in the decision-making literature. Yet we have 1 brain that makes decisions in all these contexts. The study of decision making needs integrative metatheory to advance and test the research questions of tomorrow. Existing descriptive, behavioral, information processing, dual process, fuzzy trace, and motivational and contextual models are examined to find commonalities that may inform future attempts at building a holistic, dynamic, integrative metatheoretical model of everyday decision making. Features of such a future metamodel are described and related to the study of behavioral development, such as the value of reinforcement as a mechanism of change.