Instant decisions
I just finished the book 'Blink' which is an interesting and entertaining read. The book explores the different methods we use to make decisions. Some decisions are made in a blink of an eye and sometimes we reason and take a long time to come to an answer. So which is best?
The conclusion the author reaches, can best be summed up in this quotation from Sigmund Freud...
"When making a minor decision, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature"
This would all seen contrary to what most of us have been taught. Usually we do the reverse of what the author and Mr. Freud suggest. So how do you make important decisions? Do you trust your first gut feeling? And how often do those first impressions turn out to be correct? It seems to me that couples who seem to know instantly that they have found the right partner, seem to be the happiest with their choices in the long run. Do you agree?
Eduardo
The conclusion the author reaches, can best be summed up in this quotation from Sigmund Freud...
"When making a minor decision, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature"
This would all seen contrary to what most of us have been taught. Usually we do the reverse of what the author and Mr. Freud suggest. So how do you make important decisions? Do you trust your first gut feeling? And how often do those first impressions turn out to be correct? It seems to me that couples who seem to know instantly that they have found the right partner, seem to be the happiest with their choices in the long run. Do you agree?
Eduardo
posted by Edward McBeth at
10:11 AM
2 Comments:
I am not sure decision making can be summarized that easily and neatly. When choosing a profession, one cannot be too hasty - weigh the pros and cons and USE the gut feel as an indicator or a 'leaning' if you prefer.
I trade stocks often on gut feel but that too is based on previous knowledge of that stock or sector. If I did this without the background pros/cons work, I doubt trading on gut feel would be very effective.
Having said all that though, I agree that the gut feel is most often the correct one. The gut feel is somewhat unattached from emoitions that can cloud decisions - it somehow seems to know what is right and what is not.
Interesting topic though, hopefully more commnenst will follow.
E
good points Mr. 'E'
In the book they point out that the 'instant gut feeling' is the byproduct of knowledge of the subject. So when you make the decision in a blink of an eye, it is actually because you have accumulated a wealth of information and your subconsious is reacting to that wealth of knowledge in an instant much as a computer might do!
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