The little rider and the elephant: Understanding emotional and rational influences in decision-making

Making decisions is often looked upon as a rational mandate yet many times the emotional andrather instinctive part of our brain plays a major role in molding the choices we make. This paperunpacks the concepts of dual contribution in decision making through the perspective of the“rider and the elephant” metaphor, proposed in The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt,expanding on how the prefrontal cortex (rational) and limbic system (emotional) interact andcontribute to our decisions. Adults and adolescents comprise the same neurological componentsyet adolescents are more prone to be provoked by emotional impulses often denoting riskierdecisions/behaviour. By confronting the neurological and psychological factors of decisionmaking this paper develops how both rational and emotional capabilities promote, and oftenconflict with one another while making everyday choices. The results implicate thatunderstanding this dynamic is crucial for addressing risk-taking behaviour/decisions andencouraging effective decision-making strategies across different stages of life.