SUBJECTIVE ASPECTS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING LN THE CONTEXT OF COPING

A great number of variables which can affect problem solving and decision making processes was analyzed. The authors asked themselves the following: 1. Are there any intersexual differences in subjective experiencing of problem situations and decision making?; 2. Do emotional barriers affect problem solving?; 3. Is self-confidence connected with the comprehensibility of external and internal environment?. 85 subjects (38 boys and 47 girls), mean age 17 years, were given the following to fill out: Decision Making Behavior Questionnaire, Heuristic Competence Questionnaire, Life Orientation Questionnaire and Multisituation-Multireaction Inventory. The authors found that girls seem to have greater emotional barriers in decision making, manifest greater anxiety of decision making, have a greater tendency to regressive reactions and experience greater anxiety. In individuals with higher self-confidence in decision making the study revealed higher heuristic competence and lower accompanying emotions. At the same time, these individuals manifested greater coherence in understanding the world as well as a more active adaptation to stress stimuli.