Blink is about the powerful blink of the thought. We often underestimate the power of instinctive decisions. At least those of us who seem to have been born with a brain extension for rational decision-making. We believe that we can take the right decisions only by squeezing out all the rational and logical arguments. The multitude of real-life depictions and research experiments gathered by Malcolm Gladwell in the book shows us the compelling role of snap decision making or the so called "thin-slicing" = taking a situation and analysing it in a blink of the eye.
It does not mean snap decisions are always right or that thin-slicing can't be rather prejudice than reality. Nor does it mean that immediate instincts have always the same value as an analytical dissection of all possibilities involved. But it proves the power of our unconsciousness in situations where there's no time left for reason or where logic simply fails.
After reading the book, we reevaluate our belief in how much is going in our brains behind our voluntary thoughts. The subconscious is a very alert, fast-learning entity that takes notes and conscienciously assimilates what our voluntary thinking and our repetitive experiences teach. It becomes so well trained and so independent that in critical situations, it tells us first what we have to do, letting our conciousness puzzled and perplexed: how did we know what was the right thing to do in that particular situation?
It is the same process that once urged an experienced fireman to urgently leave the flamed house with all his crew, just by feeling that something was not how it is supposed to be. No time for thinking, for getting real clues, for pointing out what were these elements that gave the sentiment of urgency. A sentiment that prevented them from a few later seconds crashing house.
It is the same phenomenon that prevents a mature policeman in shooting the wrong bullet and makes an arts expert to tell the fake from original, even when lab analysis are deceived; it's that thing that tells a relationship expert within minutes if the couple next to him will eventually stay together or they have the right symptoms of later breaking up.
Even more, in some situations this instinctive trained subconscious plays even a more crucial role. Not only does it give us a faster answer than the rational self and solves "puzzles" faster than the voluntary "analytical brain", but in some situations its role can't be replaced by the other. The rationalizing process suffocates the instinctive one, for its own detriment.
One such situation when overthinking and stategy strangles the ability and efficiency of spontaneous decisions is well exemplified by the implications of war survival techniques.
Two different approaches of war fighting strategies were analysed in an exhaustive simulation carried on by US military JFCOM. JFCOM is where Pentagon tests new ideas and war strategies. The experiment revealed that super technologized systems used during fight, with real-time information about the enemy's advancement, had the effect of crippling the instinctive and spontaneous reactions that are of inestimable value in fighting. The focus of the soldiers in constantly checking the enemy's position distracted them from being efficient in the fight.
Yes, there are situations when our reactions based on basic natural instincts can't be replaced by latest state of the art technology.
A formidable truth revealed in the book is the discrepancy between our chosen self-stated values and our deepest, inner beliefs. The implicit association tests demonstrate how our outspoken, rationally self-cultivated values of which we are so strongly assured may not be correspondent with our subconscious beliefs. These tests are designed to take the temperature of our tolerance and discriminatory attitudes. How strong social stereotypes are, how deeply it affects our judgement? We might think we are not racist and treat people equally. But a closer look at our behaviour when talking to persons from certain minority groups, reveals we show different attitudes than regularly. We even modify our physical proximity depending on the interlocutor.
Did you know that a six feet high person earns $6000 dollars more than one of five fifty inches height?:)
The unconscious bias governs our social life in many ways. There are certain qualities associated with the status of people. These associations are so strong but still so subtle, that based on them people make decisions and judgement all the time, without being aware of.
If someone thinks many women are discriminated in career advancement, they should be surprised to find out that there's a higher number of discriminated men. There is striking evidence that from a large number of men in a company, there are very few exceptions when short heighted make their way into executive positions. It has been demonstrated that 1 inch height is the equivalence of $789 more salary per year:).
You will probably never hear that someone was not elected president or chief executive because is too short. The decision makers probably don't know it either. The powerful association between leadership skills and imposing physical traits is a stereotype one can hardly fight against.
We theoretically know how much our behaviour, and especially consumeristic rituals are influenced by the media manipulative messages.
We might not know that our entire body reacts differently according to the messages the brain gets. After being exposed to a text with predominant words that express a mood or tendency, subjects' behaviour is partially changed. A text which calls for "energy", "youth", "vitality" make subjects leave a room in a fast, dynamic pace. Words reflecting polite manners made students inside an experiment waiting for more than ten minutes without interrupting a third party conversation. The other group of students exposed to the daring actions of non-conformist characters waited an average of 3 minutes.
Maybe next time when we have to make a decision, we'll give a bit more credit to our intuitive inner decision maker apparatus. It might seem unreliable and amateurish, but it is a rather experienced old fellow that is quite often a master of shortcuts. Put it to the test!
