In previous blogs, I have discussed the nature of the our decision-making process. I spoke about:
- The dangers of the heuristics and mindsets - Psychology of Intelligence Analysis and
- The fact we have hard-wired DNA that leans us to an impulsive or strategic model of decision-making ¡V The Impulse Factor.
We add to the dialogue tonight.
In ‘Think Again’, the authors, Finkelstein, Whitehead and Campbell, state that our brain uses two processes to cope with complexity:
- Pattern recognition and
- Emotional Tagging
Both help us make excellent decisions most of the time.
Pattern recognition is an unconscious, complex process that allows our brain to make guessestimates based on experience. It also allows us to fill in gaps, thus enabling us to function with incomplete information.
However the fact that it is unconscious does pose some problems. Like our ¡¥default future¡¦, the fact that it is unconscious means we tend to be unaware when it leads us astray. And, pattern recognition can lead us astray when we face unfamiliar inputs, ‘especially if the unfamiliar appears familiar’. The authors call this ‘misleading experiences’. The past experiences are not a good match to the present and thus mislead us.
The other situation where pattern recognition can lead us astray is when we have made previous decisions that connect with the current situation. If these judgements are inappropriate, they disrupt the pattern recognition process. It takes much more evidence to change a judgement than to make one. The authors call this ‘misleading prejudgements’.
More tomorrow …….
Refer this blog post to a friend or colleague…
