SUBSTANTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: CONCEPT, PSYCHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, AND FACTORS

The article highlights the theoretical study results of the «decision-making» concept, the psychological structure and factors of the decision-making process. The main areas of research on the decision-making process are highlighted: the activity of a practical psychologist; pedagogical activity; marketing; situations of risk and uncertainty; managerial activity. In accordance with the tendency to move away from russian-language calques in Ukrainian scientific terminology, in this article emphasized the practicability of using the construct «ухвалення рішень», which corresponds to the context of the decision, as opposed to the previously used «прийняття рішень». As a result of the analysis the main components of the «decision-making» concept are identified: an integrative cognitive process, a selection process, a set of alternatives, a goal or a desired result, and criteria for evaluating alternatives in accordance with the formulated goal. The selection of the essential characteristics of the decision-making process in different approaches and theories allowed the interpretation of the «decision-making» concept as an integrative cognitive process of choosing the most optimal alternative from the available set, which is occurs in accordance with the formulated goal on the selected criteria basis. The analysis of the instance-based learning theory (IBLT), the layered reference model of the brain (LRMB) in combination with the cognitive model of memory «OAR», the psychological concept of decision-making «WRAP», etc. allowed to identify the decision-making process components (problem situation that leads to the need of finding an optimal solution; goal; reproduction of alternative solutions in memory or generation of new ones in case of the situation novelty; criteria for evaluating alternatives in accordance with the formulated goal; evaluation of alternatives; the choice of the most optimal alternative; implementation) and to characterize its psychological structure. The factors of the decision-making process are identified and characterized: socio-economic status; level of social support; peer environment; level of social risks; reflection; value of education; value of freedom; value of public recognition; personal resoluteness, which includes a number of components (tolerance, risk-taking, assertiveness, adventurousness, detaildness, reflexivity and foresight); motivation for success; urgent needs; heuristics and biases; feelings of regret; the value of different alternatives attributes in a decision situation; the willpower of the individual. Among these factors, a special role is played by reflection, reflexivity, free will and the value of different alternatives attributes in a decision situation. The theoretical analysis of the decision-making process factors has shown the absence of their classification and categorization, which determines the prospects for further research in this area.