THE INTERPLAY OF DECISION-MAKING STYLES AND PERSONALITY TRAITS AMONG INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to assess the relationship between decision making style and personality traits among individuals, while also investigating potential gender differences and the predictive role of personality traits in decision-making styles. A sample of 130 individuals, comprising 65 females and 65 males, aged between 16 and 34, was randomly selected using simple random sampling. Personality traits were assessed using the Big Five Inventory (BFI) developed by John and Srivastava (1999), while decision- making styles were measured using the Decision-Making Style Inventory by Scott and Bruce (1995). The findings showed that the Rational decision-making style exhibited significant positive associations with Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness personality traits, while the Avoidant style showed negative associations with Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, and a positive association with neuroticism. The Intuitive style was positively related to Openness to experiences. The Dependent style demonstrated a positive relation with Neuroticism. The Spontaneous style exhibited a negative relation with Conscientiousness. The regression analysis revealed that Openness exhibited a positive effect on both rational and intuitive decision-making styles. Conscientiousness personality was found to have a significant positive effect on the rational style, while negatively impacting avoidant and spontaneous styles. Extraversion demonstrated a positive effect on the spontaneous style. Agreeableness was positively associated with the dependent style. Neuroticism exhibited positive effects on both dependent and avoidant styles. Females showed significant higher scores on dependent decision-making style compared to males. Whereas males exhibited a greater inclination towards spontaneous decision-making than females. Females also scored significantly higher than males in neuroticism personality trait.