Blink
-Malcomb Gladwell
Two types decisions: Logical and Intuitive [He doesn’t like that word]. 3 questions book claims to answer:
1. Decisions made quickly can be as good-better than-those reasoned [That point is proved]
2. Need to know when they can be trusted, since they can fail [Shows some factors that are problematic]
Does not provide any assurance that you can know when to trust snap decisions
3. Snap impressions can be educated and controlled [Shows some ways to do this]
1. Decisions made quickly [2 sec. “thin-slicing”] can be as good as-better than-those reasoned
These are based on unconscious patterns of appearance, behavior, etc.
Need to be accurate, know when accurate, know how to interpret
Unconscious picks out the things that really matter. Recognized by a “feeling”: You know
Most people suspicious of [because can’t explain], but some situations demand, as can be life or death
Snap decisions are unconscious [a “locked door”], therefore can’t be analyzed. Trying wrecks them
2. Need to know when they can be trusted, since they can fail. Certain factors portend failure
“Priming” creates a predisposition to a poor snap decision
Bias, prejudice, expectations, relation to ideas already in the mind
Tho aware of conscious attitudes toward these things, totally unaware of unconscious
Can be apparently “innocuous” causes, e.g. exposure to dumb info can reduce test scores; or v.v.
Need to get quickly below surface and not allow it to blind, e.g. “W. Harding error”
He looked so much like a President…”If it looks like a duck…” but it may not be
People are manipulated by someone who looks a part he is trying to play
Never judge anything on appearance or first impression [they are from behind the “locked door”]
E.g., If must judge something you have a bias re, look at opposites about it before judging [p97]
“Verbal overshadowing”: L brain is verbal, R works in pictures-there is a conflict between them
Explaining a logical decision can strengthen it; trying to explain an intuitive one damages it
3. Snap impressions can be educated and controlled
E.g. Gottman system has 100s of codes to analyze marital success by conversation between partners
1 hr conversation can be analyzed with 95% accuracy for marriage success long term
But even when the minimal, but most imp, features are learned, 3 min is usually sufficient
4 things: Look for Defensiveness, Criticism [usually W.], Stonewall [H], Contempt [the Killer]
Key: Study, observation, experience train the unconscious to make the snap decision correctly
Important to decide how much info to get to make a decision; a fine balance
Too much can lead to analysis paralysis or to false overconfidence
Different types of decisions require either analytical or intuitive approach
Right vs. wrong way to ask people what they want: [40 p. illustration that may have meant something…]
Judgments about other people are the most common and most important we make, and the first is instant
Info that shows on your face is what is in your mind
Can even change own feelings just by changing what is on your face]
“Mind reading” failure [reading someone’s face] is common [50 p interminable illus.]
It is at the root of much interpersonal conflict. Can be catastrophic
People who aren’t effective [autistics are worst] are out of sync in social circumstances
People need to recognize and practice [and there is a tape that teaches it]
Any time heart rate exceeds 145, cognitions are shut down; over 175 panic mode kicks in
Causes over-reaction, total reliance on prejudices and stereotypes and, finally out-of-control
It’s what happens, e.g., when cops chase someone and then go berserk when they catch him
Only solution is to force self to slow down-don’t go racing in