In this paper we will be discussing the book Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking. We will cover the theory of adaptive unconscious and how small slicing and rapid cognition plays a role in our decision making and intuition. Author Malcolm Gladwell uses different studies to explain how these process can help with decision making and how one can improve adaptive conscious. We will also cover my thoughts on this book and how it resonated with me. Finally we will discuss how I can use this to my benefit in the future.
Adaptive Unconscious
Have you ever just looked at something for the first time and had a strong feeling without knowing why? If so, then you have experienced rapid …show more content…
Though it can help us to deduct conclusions from minute amounts of information with shocking accuracy, it can also be bad when so easily altered by simple mind tricks. So when should we trust our instincts and when should we gather more information? Well it’s simple really, we must learn to hone in these skills to make more accurate conclusions. “Taking our powers of rapid cognition seriously means we have to acknowledge the subtle influences that can alter or undermine or bias the products of our unconscious” (Gladwell, 2007, p. 252). By being aware of our adaptive unconscious we can adjust our reaction time to allow for more analysis of information and to help improve our own intuition. Malcolm states that “just because something is outside of awareness doesn’t mean it’s outside of control” (Gladwell, 2007, p. …show more content…
My rapid cognition immediately knew that I would enjoy this book. After reading it I am certain that I was meant to read this particular book in order to improve my perception of intuition and to further explore the inner workings of my mind. While reading this book I found that more and more I was understanding all the decision I have made in my life and when small slicing and rapid cognition played a part in my decisions. I also realized why I draw quick conclusions about people when I first meet them. It is similar to the study done with the students and the videos of instructors that Malcolm references in the book. By watching a short clip of a lecture students were able to pick out the better instructors. They used past experience and small slicing to know what they needed and wanted in an