The prediction of analytic decision making by happiness and cognitive styles dimensions with the mediational role of metacognitive disposition

The aim of present study was investigating the mechanism of decision making process from the hot cognition view. So, the effect of happiness as an emotion and cognitive styles dimensions (need for cognition, need for structure and need for decisiveness) as a motivation index on analytic decision making (based on Klaczynski (2004) dual processes model) were checked. In this model, metacognitive disposition was the mediator variable. Actively open-minded thinking checked as an index of metacognitive disposition. The sample group included 228 bachelor girl and boy students of Shiraz University. Need for cognition (Cacioppo, et. al., 1996), need for structure and need for decisiveness (Thompson et. al., 1992), happiness (lyubomirski & Lepper, 1999), actively open-minded thinking (Stanovich & West, 2007) and decision making (Klaczynski, 2001) scales were performed. Validity and reliability of the scales confirmed.Result showed the negative direct and indirect (from open-minded thinking) prediction of analytic decision making by happiness. This result repeated for need for cognition, but positively. Need for structure predicted decision making negatively and only trough open-minded thinking variable. Need for decisiveness did not predict decision making. Therefore, this study confirmed dual processes model of decision making and the role of emotion, motivation and metacognition disposition in decision making process.