What Makes a Decision ‘Rational’ or ‘Irrational’?

Examples

1. Rational choice: You choose the smaller pizza because it costs less and you’re hungry, but the bigger one looks tempting.
2. Irrational choice: You buy a toy for $20 just because it was on sale, even though you already have three of them.
3. Rational decision with emotions: You pick a restaurant that’s slightly more expensive because the food smells amazing.

More examples

See also

• Why Do People Feel ‘Anxious’ in Crowded Places?
• Why Do People Often Believe in Conspiracy Theories?
• Why Do We Yawn When We're Tired?
• Why Do Some People Hear Music in Their Heads?
• Why Do People Get Stressed Out by the Same Things Over and Over?

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