Final answer:
Irrational thoughts during decision-making are often linked to emotions, which are critical in guiding rational thinking. Heuristics, while efficient, can lead to biases and rely on emotions and intuition in contrast to the active, effortful process of analytical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
When problem-solving in making decisions, irrational thought is often centered in one's emotions. The influence of emotions on decision-making has been highlighted by neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, who emphasizes that without emotions, our rational thinking can be compromised. Emotions are integral to our reasoning, guiding and informing our most rational thoughts.
This is supported by Tversky and Kahneman's work on heuristics, which are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decision-making, but can lead to biases such as the anchoring bias or confirmation bias. Rational thought, which demands more cognitive resources and active attention, contrasts with heuristic thinking, which operates unconsciously and efficiently, often relying on emotions and intuition.
Humans use various strategies in decision-making, such as heuristics, which might default to self-centered or community-oriented thinking, and focus on the impacts of their decisions on both themselves and others. Similarly, when examining data to look for trends, one primarily utilizes their analytical intelligence. Understanding these concepts is essential for developing better critical thinking and decision-making skills.