Reasoning and Decision-Making

Abstract High-level cognitive abilities, such as reasoning and decision-making, are often associated with logical inference, problem-solving, weighing possibilities, and other intellectual activities. In reality, they extend to practically any information-processing that helps decide “what to do next?”. Sometimes an answer is obvious and is made automatically with little effort. More often than not, a great deal of deliberation may be needed to choose among many alternatives, without full information, under time pressure, and in uncertain conditions. This chapter starts with the current views on definitions of and relations between decision-making, reasoning, thinking, cognition. We then discuss two most common types of reasoning: theoretical (monotonic and nonmonotonic reasoning about beliefs) and practical (action selection criteria, traits, emotions, and drives). Finally, we discuss meta-reasoning for self-monitoring and self-regulation.