A model of decision-making that assumes people have limited information, time, and cognitive resources, so they rely on heuristics and “good enough” choices rather than optimization. Crucially, it assumes intact agency and that constraints are reversible—that decision-making improves as limits are relaxed.

Example:
A worker chooses a familiar brand at the grocery store instead of comparing every option, because time and attention are limited.

Contrast:
Bounded rationality explains imperfect choices under constraints; it does not explain what happens when stress or trauma removes access to choice itself.