Lindécis

Lindécis is a term used in literary theory and decision studies to describe a state in which choices are effectively suspended because options are equally viable, information is ambiguous, or values conflict. The term functions as a label for a particular class of indecision, emphasizing the process of hesitation as a substantive phenomenon rather than a mere lack of resolution.

Etymology and usage: Lindécis is a neologism derived from the French indecis (undecided) with a prefix-like element that marks a locus or instance of indecision. The coinage is attributed in various fictional and academic contexts to discussions of ambiguity in choice, rather than to a standard technical definition in established fields.

Concepts: Core features include cognitive stall, graded commitment rather than binary choice, and potentiality for outcome reversal as new information arrives. It is described as a dynamic state rather than a fixed preference, often involving competing cues, time pressure, or moral stakes that prevent a clear ranking of options.

Applications: In narrative analysis, Lindécis helps explain moments of plot standstill or moral ambiguity. In decision theory and psychology, it serves as a model for states of partial indifference, where standard expected utility fails to predict behavior. Critics note that it risks conflating realism with literary trope if overapplied.

See also: indecision, decision theory, moral psychology, narrative ambiguity.