Every day, we make hundreds of decisions, many of (0) WHICH we are not even consciously aware of. Psychologists have long 1 interested in understanding how people arrive at their choices and what factors influence the process. Research has shown that emotions play a far greater role 2 decision-making than was previously thought. In fact, individuals who have suffered damage to the emotional centres of the brain often struggle to make even the simplest choices, 3 as what to eat for lunch. This suggests that purely rational thinking is not 4 to guide us through everyday life on its own. Another significant finding is that people tend to rely 5 mental shortcuts, known as heuristics, when faced with complex problems. While these shortcuts can be useful, they also lead to systematic errors in judgement. 6 instance, we are more likely to fear dramatic events, such as plane crashes, even 7 the statistical risk is extremely low compared to more common dangers like car accidents. Understanding these patterns can help us become more aware of our own biases and, as a 8, make better decisions in both our personal and professional lives.