Choice of styles

Some people make their choices on the basis of their feelings, while others rely more on facts. There is no 'best' way, one suits you better than the other. Yet it can't do any harm to approach making a choice in a different way. Therefore it is useful if you know what choice styles there are. Look at the different styles and then do the corresponding exercise to see how and which choice style you can use.

Do you recognise your own choice style?

I choose sensibly and logically
As a logical-rational chooser the emphasis lies on logical arguments when making a decision. You have to plan your choice well, collect arguments and see what seems most logical.

Pitfall
Decisions can become impersonal, as if it were a simple calculation and you no longer have any feeling for what you are choosing. There is also the danger of endlessly gathering information and continuing to weigh things up.

Challenge
Make more room for emotional arguments and subjective experiences of what you like or want, whether this is sensible or not.

I choose based on my feelings
Emotional choosers listen mainly to their hearts and their own feelings when making decisions. What feels good and what makes your stomach hurt?

Pitfall
Deciding based on feelings is that emotions are quite changeable. Emotional choosers are therefore often rather fickle and their choices seem to follow the whims of their changeable emotional moods.

Challenge
To rely more on objective information and arguments for and against a decision.

I choose what comes first
For impulsive choosers, choosing often does not seem so difficult at all. They just do what comes first or spontaneously seems best. Why do it the hard way if you can do it the easy way? Besides, isn't the first impression usually the most valuable or reliable?

Pitfall
Impulsive choosers take too little time to think the situation through. They then act too quickly and later do not remember why they made the choice in the first place.

Challenge
To learn to take more time and supplement the initial impulse with a more thoughtful consideration of the situation.

I choose the safe over the uncertain
The procrastinating voter chooses the sure over the uncertain. You can always get new information and why decide if you don't have to do it right away?

Pitfall
Procrastination is a recipe for disaster. Pondering and weighing up and waiting can become an endless process.

Challenge
Having the guts to cut the Gordian knot, even if you're not sure about everything yet. Sometimes it is better to make a decisive choice than to do nothing at all.

I know exactly what I want
There are also people who always seem to be able to choose very confidently and with conviction. Stubborn voters know exactly what they want and will not be swayed by anything or anyone.

Pitfall
Stubborn choosers can come across as very dominant and seem to have little interest in what other people think. This can lead them to disregard valuable insights from fellow students, teachers and parents.

Challenge
Open yourself up more to the ideas, reactions and thoughts of others, so that you can get a more complete picture of yourself and your (study) choice.

I choose what the rest want
The compliant voter easily adapts to what the group or others want. His own opinion does not count so much. By making choices in this way, you will experience few conflicts and avoid falling outside the group.

Pitfall
You become opinionated and at some point no longer know what you want. For instance, you go with a friend to an information day on Earth sciences and think: 'That sounds like something I'd like to do', without getting further in-depth knowledge.

Challenge
Stand up more for your own opinions and wishes, and admit your own colours. Perhaps sometimes make more obstinate choices.

I choose on the basis of intuition
Intuition is difficult to describe. It is usually used to describe a deeper, 'certain knowledge'. Intuition can be an inspiration that comes to you when you have left a (choice) question unanswered for a few days. All our previous experiences and knowledge are stored in the unconscious. The unconscious mind can process two hundred thousand times more information than the conscious mind and therefore has much more information on the basis of which a decision can be taken.

Pitfall
Thinking that your subconscious will do the work, and therefore not making any efforts to come to a good (study) choice.

Challenge
It's certainly good to follow your intuition when you have a choice question, but first take a step back and collect the information you need.

Exercise: My choice style
Have you read through all the styles? Then fill in the following questions to find out which choice style you naturally prefer and which other style could help you with your choice of study.

• Which style(s) of choice do you usually use?
• Which style would you like to use more?
• What do you need to be able to use the style mentioned under 2 more often?
• What are you going to do to use the style mentioned under 2 more often? (Mention concrete actions!)