Foreign language and Decision-making Biases: A Brief Exploration of the Relationship Between Emotions, using a Foreign Language, and Decision-making

Abstract

Contrary to what traditional normative decision-making models claim, a change in how a given problem is framed influences the outcome of the decision-making process. Neurological research has shown that during this so-called framing effect, brain structures that are typically associated with the emotional system are activated, suggesting an emotional dimension to the processes that underlie heuristic biases. Recent studies have also shown that thinking in a foreign language can reduce physiological responses typically associated with emotional reactions. This research paper explores the relationship between using a foreign language, emotions, and decision-making in order to determine whether using a foreign language can reduce decision-making biases. More specifically, this paper reasons that using a foreign language can reduce some heuristic biases provided that the given problem is emotionally-laden.