I think we need to get away from the idea that every decision someone makes in their personal life is exclusively an effect of their personal situation.
Humans clearly look around and weigh probabilities and risks.
Discussion
factual information . talk
Every decision in life is conducted via a cost - benefit analysis (whether we realize it or not).
One weighs the options, and then acts accordingly.
Living somewhere with significant crime? Well, clearly the benefits to the criminal outweigh the perceived costs. (i.e. if laws are "soft" on crime, the perceived cost is lower, and you have more crime).
Just one example, but it how we all make decisions...
Yes, it should be common sense that people think that way, but there's an expectation that this not apply to marriage.
And I think this is what is causing marriage rates to plummet. People are responding to incentives and the incentives are increasingly stacked against marriage.
Agree completely - with the caveat that the perceived incentives (and costs) are dependent upon each individual.
In the crime example, some will not become criminals no matter the perceived benefits...one would say the personal emotional cost to their psyche by stealing (for example) would not outweigh the benefits.
Same with any decision...each individual remains the arbiter of their own cost-benefit analysis.
Do you mean generally speaking or within a particular context?
Sure, but unfortunately, many aren't anywhere near as rational as they've convinced themselves they are.
Humans don't always behave rationally, but they do always behave reasonably. In that I mean, there is always some reason for their behavior, even if they are not self-aware enough to recognize it.
They are often working off of assumptions or axioms, or responding to changes in their environment.
Our will is contingent on our intellect. While we can act contrary to what our intellect knows to be true, good, or rational, what we’ve perceived in our life and continue to perceive in the moment is a big factor in shaping the condition of our will which is ultimately our ability to choose truth, goodness, and rationality.