Across diverse cultures, people prefer to make decisions independently rather than seek advice, a new international study finds. The research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, challenges the assumption that group-oriented societies are more advice-seeking. Participants from 12 countries, including Indigenous Amazonian communities, most often chose personal deliberation as their preferred decision-making strategy, followed by trusting gut instincts. Seeking advice from friends or a broader group was less preferred, even in collectivist cultures. Cultural differences shaped the strength of this self-reliance tendency, but not the overall pattern. People were more willing to ask for advice on personal choices than moral dilemmas, perhaps due to reputation concerns. Understanding this “advice-discounting bias” could help people make wiser choices by recognizing when outside input may be valuable. (StudyFinds)

PHONE TOPIC: What’s the best decision you’ve made recently?