Arousal-Valence Model
Emotions map onto two axes — how activated you are and how pleasant it feels; high arousal of either sign speeds decisions and sharing, low arousal slows them.
An everyday example
Excited and anxious buyers both decide fast; content buyers browse; sad ones stop.
What it can cost you
Being moved by arousal rather than by direction — an exciting pitch and a frightening one both shorten your thinking.
Warning signs
- I am buzzing.
- The decision feels urgent and I cannot say why.
One thing to do
Locate yourself on the map before deciding: if arousal is high, wait for it to drop regardless of whether it feels good or bad.
Is this happening to you right now?
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Not medical, legal or financial advice. How Decision IQ works
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