Our Most Important Decisions are dictated by Parents

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Our Most Important Decisions are dictated by Parents

Introduction

When faced with alternative possibilities on course of actions, the decision-making process becomes critical of the individual’s stance. It entails a cognitive process, which is determined by various factors towards the individual. The age, gender, class, experience, nature, and personality are all pre-determined factors that facilitate the process of decision choice and the ultimate outcome. In most cases, the turnout of the decision serves as an indicator and lesson for future reference while facing the current situations. External factors such as advice from parents, relatives, society, authority or any form of added help also contribute to the decision-making. Some are compelled means while others are voluntary. Advice and support offered by family are so important that they outweigh the harm done by their interference in decision-making.

Discussion

The fundamental difference between members of the family in any decision-making process is age. The senior members of any unit feel entitled to make the decisions for other members since they are older and command respect. In this regard, they have greater influence and added importance to the outcomes of the decisions to be made. Lee and Beatty (26) note that by relation through family ties, there is esteemed significance in the decisions made as it is made to be a family issue, which requires their immediate input. Despite the outcomes being either positive or negative, the role played by families does not represent an added interference. In the end, the union of family guarantees support.

The general outcomes of decisions give an added importance to family’s contribution in the interference. All individual members have their entitled responsibility in making decisions and facing the results. There is no compelled means to abide by the support offered by the family. A positive outcome draws a unified front from all the involved people since it reflects a trusted mechanism. In addition, the family takes ownership of the positive outcome. In terms of harm or negative outcome, the consequence is suffered by the individual but with acceptance by the family. There is added security by knowing that the family will support one despite the results.

The authority placed on the responsibility of the family rests on the parents in a hierarchical representation. It is believed that parents have the moral authority to make decisions for their children up to their adulthood (Andrew and Shaikh 562). Secondly, in most cultures and backgrounds, respect and adherence to advice, decisions, and opinions of the senior members of the family are revered by any individual. In such a case, for example, a child will be compelled to stick to the decisions made on behalf of them since experience does not count on their side. Even with the threat of harm and interference, maintenance of the respect for authority and parents is of uttermost importance.

Conclusion

The Decision-making process is critical in the life of humans at any given stage of their development and carrying out of daily activities. Several factors are responsible for the inclination to a particular decision and the process followed. Advice and support offered by family is so important that it outweighs the harm done by their interference in decision-making. The value placed on the age difference, experience and expertise in different situations guarantees that family support is the most important. In addition, it is a welcome relief knowing that despite any potential harm from the decision, the support of family will be maintained.

Works Cited

Andrew, Hoberman, and Ahmed Shaikh. “Factors that Influence Parental Participation in Decisions.” NCBI Journals, 167.6 (2013): 561-600. Print.

Lee, Christina, and Sharon Beatty “Family Structure and Influence in Family Decision Making.” Journal of Consumer Marketing, 19.1 (2006): 24-41. Print.