may occur when we are hesitating between two lines of action which are
seemingly about equally desirable, and no preponderating motive enters the
field; when no external factor appears, and no advising friend comes to the
rescue. Then, with the necessity for deciding thrust upon us, we tire of the worry
and strain of deliberation and say to ourselves, "This thing must be settled one
way or the other pretty soon; I am tired of the whole matter." When we have
reached this point we are likely to shut our eyes to the evidence in the case, and
decide largely upon the whim or mood of the moment. Very likely we regret our
decision the next instant, but without any more cause for the regret than we had
for the decision.
It is evident that such a decision as this does not rest on valid motives but rather
on the accident of subjective conditions. Habitual decisions of this type are an
evidence of a mental laziness or a mental incompetence which renders the
individual incapable of marshaling the facts bearing on a case. He cannot hold
them before his mind and weigh them against each other until one side
outweighs the other and dictates the decision. Of course the remedy for this
weakness of decision lies in not allowing oneself to be pushed into a decision
simply to escape the unpleasantness of a state of indecision, or the necessity of
searching for further evidence which will make the decision easier.
On the other hand, it is possible to form a habit of indecision, of undue hesitancy
in coming to conclusions when the evidence is all before us. This gives us the
mental dawdler, the person who will spend several minutes in an agony of
indecision over whether to carry an umbrella on this particular trip; whether to
wear black shoes or tan shoes today; whether to go calling or to stay at home and
write letters this afternoon. Such a person is usually in a stew over some
inconsequential matter, and consumes so much time and energy in fussing over
trivial things that he is incapable of handling larger ones. If we are certain that
we have all the facts in a given case before us, and have given each its due
weight so far as our judgment will enable us to do, then there is nothing to be
gained by delaying the decision. Nor is there any occasion to change the decision
after it has once been made unless new evidence is discovered bearing on the
case.
Decision Under Effort.—The highest type of decision is that in which effort is
the determining factor. The pressure of external circumstances and inward
impulse is not enough to overcome a calm and determined I will. Two possible
lines of action may lie open before us. Every current of our being leads toward
the one; in addition, inclination, friends, honors, all beckon in the same