Scott and Bruce (1995) described five decision-making styles. Most people combine several depending on the situation.
- Rational: systematic analysis.
- Intuitive: trusting your gut.
- Dependent: needs outside support.
- Avoidant: puts off the decision.
- Spontaneous: decides fast and adjusts later.
20 statements, about 4 minutes, to see which one dominates in you.
All possible results
Rational decision-maker
You analyze the information available and weigh your options before deciding: logic and order guide your choices more than gut feeling or urgency does.
Read more about Rational decision-maker
“The rational decision-maker doesn't decide fast: they decide safely, after comparing the options in front of them.”
What's behind it
This is one of the five styles Scott and Bruce (1995) described in their decision-making style model: systematically seeking out information, logically comparing alternatives, and following a clear sequence of steps before committing to an option.
How it shows up
- You gather data before deciding, even on decisions others would settle instantly.
- You make pros-and-cons lists, whether mentally or on paper.
- You perform better with time to think than when pressured to decide right away.
- Committing to an option is harder if you feel information is missing.
Your challenge
This style can drag on too long when information is never fully complete (which is almost always the case): at some point, more analysis stops adding value and just delays the decision.
What can help
Setting yourself a reasonable time or information limit for deciding is a strategy Kahneman (2011) suggests to keep analysis from becoming a way of putting off the decision.
Intuitive decision-maker
You trust your gut and decide fast based on an overall impression, rather than an exhaustive step-by-step analysis.
Read more about Intuitive decision-maker
“The intuitive decision-maker doesn't decide without thinking: they decide with a faster, less conscious kind of thinking than step-by-step analysis.”
What's behind it
This is another of Scott and Bruce's (1995) five styles: trusting hunches, gut feelings, and an overall read of the situation. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman called this mode of thinking "System 1": fast, automatic, and built on accumulated experience, as opposed to the slower, more deliberate "System 2."
How it shows up
- You decide fast, without needing all the information to feel confident.
- You know what you're going to choose before you've finished consciously weighing it.
- You trust that a decision that "feels right" probably is.
- You perform well in contexts you already know, where your instincts are well-trained.
Your challenge
Kahneman himself warns that System 1 is fast but also prone to biases, especially in new situations or ones very different from what you already know.
What can help
Reserving slower, more deliberate analysis for the highest-stakes decisions, without giving up intuition for the rest, is a balance Kahneman (2011) considers useful.
Dependent decision-maker
You feel more confident deciding with the backing or advice of other people than facing a decision entirely alone.
Read more about Dependent decision-maker
“The dependent decision-maker isn't indecisive: they need the contrast of another perspective before fully trusting their own.”
What's behind it
Scott and Bruce (1995) describe this style as actively seeking guidance and social support before deciding: it isn't fully handing off the decision, it's needing outside validation to feel secure about it.
How it shows up
- You consult someone you trust even on decisions you could handle alone.
- You feel calmer when someone with experience backs your choice.
- You pay close attention to the opinions of people around you before deciding.
- Deciding in complete isolation makes you more uneasy than the decision itself.
Your challenge
Relying too heavily on outside backing can dilute your own judgment over time, especially if the opinions you get contradict each other.
What can help
Forming your own position first and using other people's advice to test it, not replace it, is a nuance Scott and Bruce (1995) flag as useful for staying balanced.
Avoidant decision-maker
Putting off the decision is, in practice, your way of deciding: committing to one option while others remain open feels hard.
Read more about Avoidant decision-maker
“The avoidant decision-maker doesn't choose between options: for as long as possible, they try not to have to choose at all.”
What's behind it
This is the style Scott and Bruce (1995) link to an active attempt to postpone or dodge the moment of deciding, often out of discomfort with the commitment that comes with closing off one option and ruling out the rest.
How it shows up
- You delay important decisions as long as you possibly can.
- You'd rather let a situation resolve on its own than step in yourself.
- You avoid closing off an option while alternatives remain open.
- Deciding for good brings more tension than the indecision itself.
Your challenge
Not deciding is also a decision, with its own consequences, and it usually turns out worse when time makes it for you instead of you making it deliberately.
What can help
Setting yourself a concrete deadline to decide, even an arbitrary one, is a strategy Steel (2007) suggests to shrink the room for putting things off indefinitely.
Spontaneous decision-maker
You decide on the spot, almost on impulse, and feel comfortable adjusting course as you go rather than planning everything out ahead of time.
Read more about Spontaneous decision-maker
“The spontaneous decision-maker doesn't decide without judgment: they decide fast and would rather correct course later than plan ahead.”
What's behind it
This is Scott and Bruce's (1995) fifth style: a sense of urgency and immediacy when deciding, with a preference for wrapping up the decision process quickly rather than analyzing it in depth.
How it shows up
- You decide on the spot, without mulling it over much beforehand.
- You're comfortable leaving room for improvisation on important decisions.
- You switch options easily if something better comes up along the way.
- You'd rather decide now and adjust later than plan everything out first.
Your challenge
Speed comes at a cost on high-impact decisions that are hard to walk back, where pausing to weigh consequences matters more than it does day to day.
What can help
Reserving spontaneity for reversible, low-risk decisions, and giving more time to the ones that are harder to undo, is a guideline Scott and Bruce (1995) consider useful.
Frequently asked questions
What are the five decision-making styles?
According to Scott and Bruce (1995): rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant, and spontaneous.
Is one style better than the others?
Not universally: each style works better depending on the type of decision and how much time is available. Rational performs well with time; spontaneous performs well under urgency.
Can I combine several styles?
Yes, that's common: plenty of people decide rationally at work and more intuitively in their personal life, for example.
How does this relate to the procrastination test in this same category?
They're related but distinct constructs: avoidant decision-making style focuses on the moment of choosing, while indecisive procrastination focuses on the moment of starting to act.
Does this test replace a psychological evaluation?
No. It's an orientation-only, informational approximation inspired by Scott and Bruce's academic model, not a validated clinical scale.
How long does the test take? How many questions does it have?
It has 20 questions, and takes about 4-6 minutes to complete.
Is it free?
Yes, it's completely free: no sign-up or payment needed to take the test and see your result.