Reason and choice: a conceptual study of consumer decision making and electoral behavior

Rational choice supposes that individuals make their electoral decision in keeping with their own self-interest, undertaking a cost-benefit analysis, no different to choosing a product or service. Rather than reject the concept of rational choice, this paper will review the notions of rationality and reasoning, which, as Aristotle argues, are inseparable. We will support Marcus' (2002) grievance that emotional decision making is irrational and thus perceived negatively, rather than being seen to play an important motivational role in decision making. A framework is proposed that focuses upon the interplay among rationality, irrationality, reasoning, and emotion, and we argue that this is far more fluid than has been previously discussed.