I recently saw an explicit video on social media with dramatic footage of an accident at a level crossing. A truck entered the crossing, when the red lights flashed, the barrier started to fall. The driver had the option of reversing or quickly crashing through the barrier in front of him. He didn’t. Instead, he moved so as to exit and not destroy the barrier. He didn’t make it. He was hit by the train and the consequences of the accident were unfortunately fatal for him.

Why did he make this decision?

Almost everyone who commented on the video questioned why he didn’t actually break the barrier to prevent the collision or at least save his life by getting out of the car. It’s perfectly clear. He was under tremendous stress. His brain was thinking very differently than the brain of the commentators at home quietly in front of the computer. He was thinking he couldn’t damage someone else’s property. Barriers. The car. It’s not unusual.

Time pressure

Time pressure plays a significant role in decision-making processes. This is evidenced by a study that examined how time pressure influences risk preference and outcome evaluation through behavioral and electrophysiological responses during decision making. Participants completed a simple but hazardous task under three time constraints. Results clearly showed that decision-making time was shorter under high time pressure than under medium and low time pressure. What does this imply? People tend to make riskier decisions when they are under high time pressure.

━━ ( Source: Aron Visuals /  Unsplash+ )

Understanding decision making under pressure

Making decisions during time pressure is really challenging. Stress hormones activate the body’s response. I see this with our young daughter. If she has to make a quick decision about something, she gets nervous, often fidgets, and starts making unpleasant noises. Her brain can’t handle it. No wonder. It’s not easy for adults either. The brain tells us fight or flight.

It’s common that we don’t often consider the long-term consequences of our decisions at these stages. According to research, we often overlook important information and act very impulsively. It can happen that a decision under pressure is completely at odds with our values. We are motivated by external pressures. These cause us intense stress.

The nature of decision-making

Decision-making generally involves choosing between two or more options. The possible outcomes and risks need to be evaluated. And, of course, the benefits. It is a cognitive process that uses attention, emotion, memory and reasoning. If we have the peace of mind and enough time to make a decision, then decisions are thoughtful and rational. We first analyze the available information, compare alternatives and anticipate the consequences.

However, each individual’s values take a back seat under time pressure. In fact, we go on autopilot, preferring satisfying and quick answers to ethical considerations. Short-term thinking is stressful. It can lead to bad decisions. But it can be worked with. It is good to reflect regularly on the values we hold. Then one can also better control one’s reflexes even under stress. It is also helpful to establish team routines that systematically support value-oriented decision-making.