“I can’t decide, and it upsets me”: assessing self-critical cognition, indecision, and hope among young adults

Abstract

Decisional procrastination, or indecision, is the maladaptive postponing of decision-making when faced with conflicts or choices. In the present exploratory study, we examined two factors of a psychological model toward understanding the underpinnings of indecision, namely: self-critical cognition as a predisposition to indecision and decreased hope as a post-decision behavior of indecision. Self-critical cognition is the tendency for selfrelated thoughts to be critical and defeating. It is hypothesized to predict indecision as self-critical individuals are likely to also doubt their competence at tasks such as decision-making and may, in turn, delay. Decreased hope is hypothesized to be an outcome of indecision as the latter is related to anxiety, worry, and life regret. participants and procedure Participants were 327 undergraduate students from a large Midwestern university (242 women, 82 men; M age = 20.31 years old). They completed the self-report measures in an online survey and received class credit for participation. results Using a bootstrap analysis of the indirect effect, the results showed that indecision mediates the relationship between self-critical cognition and decreased hope among emerging adults. conclusions Implications for future research and potential interventions to alter the pattern of indecision and to increase hope are discussed. This study moves forward the literature of indecision by examining a new predictor and outcome of indecision.

Drivers and consequences of strategic leader indecision: an exploratory study in a complex case

“…Finally, previous research has found personal antecedents of indecision such as personality traits (Brooks, 2011), decision biases (Tarka, 2017), or dysfunctional thinking patterns (McGarity-Palmer et al, 2019). Although our research did not unpack traits, biases and thinking fallacies, it did find a manifestation of fear of accountability that Tarka (2017) ascribes to status quo bias and that Shortland et al (2023) ascribes to having power in a context of uncertainty.…”

“…Apart from the organizational and interpersonal factors of indecision revealed, the research also uncovered personal drivers of indecision in the upper echelons. Previous findings have shown that indecision may result from personal drivers such as enduring traits (McGarity-Palmer et al. , 2019), present-mindedness (Díaz-Morales et al.…”

“…For others, the trait of indecision is more enduring. Characteristic cognitive processes may underpin indecision, such as self-critical and defeating thoughts, perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty (McGarity-Palmer et al, 2019). In contrast, a sense of self-awareness with the belief in free will leads to greater decisiveness (Kokkoris et al, 2019).…”

“…For others, the trait of indecision is more enduring. Characteristic cognitive processes may underpin indecision, such as self-critical and defeating thoughts, perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty (McGarity-Palmer et al. , 2019).…”

Academic Procrastination and the Stress of University Students of Electronic Engineering from the Callao Region

“…Indecision is another dimension of which Diaz (2018) referred to as the dilation to execute a decision. According to McGarity, Excell, and Ferrari (2019) it is understood as the unjustified postponement in deciding how to deal with conflicts. Krumboltz (1992) noted that the indecisive person does not have a deep vision of his desires, causing discontent in him.…”