Do you know that?

Those days when everything just comes together magically? You're already waking up feeling good. Is one talent after another convincing you during the application process?

What is the reason for that?

This is due to the affect heuristic

The affect heuristic describes that we When making decisions, we often rely on our feelings and not on specific information.

Affects and emotions play an important role in decision-making. Thus, the first response when a new stimulus is perceived is often an emotional one (Zajonc, 1980). Emotions are therefore already felt before or without cognitive activities and can thus influence our decision making.

Anyone who is in a positive emotional state is more likely to perceive an activity as beneficial and low-risk (Slovic, 2000). As a result of the good mood of the HR manager, applicants may receive an approval who, according to objective criteria, should have received a rejection earlier.

Sources

• Zajonc, R.B. (1980). Feeling and thinking: Preferences need no inferences. American Psychologist, 35 (2), 151—175.
• Finucane, M.L., Alhakami, A., Slovic, P., & Johnson, S.M. (2000). The Affect Heuristic in Judgments of Risks and Benefits. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 13 (1), 1—17. doi:10.1002/ (SICI) 1099-0771 (200001/03) 13