Too much thinking can lead to worse judgements, according to this article in Wired.
When students were simply asked to rate jams for flavour their scores closely matched those of jam experts. However, when a second group of students were asked to do the same task but to give detailed reasons for their decisions, they went haywire and rated one of the worst jams as the best.
Reason doesn’t seem to be very good at helping us make decisions and might even get in the way. What it’s very good at is helping us persuade others that our judgements are correct.
I don’t know about you but I don’t find this a very comfortable thought.
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23 comments
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6 August, 2010 at 9:47 am
AlphaChick
He he. I love this. Instinct and gut feel only from now on.Switching off brain…now.
6 August, 2010 at 9:54 am
fairyhedgehog
AC, that was quick! Did you respond before you had time to think?
6 August, 2010 at 10:15 am
AlphaChick
Yep! Knee-jerk instinctive reaction. Just wrote what came into my head.You are now my excuse for not thinking and doing/writing silly things for the rest of the day…
6 August, 2010 at 11:48 am
fairyhedgehog
It's always good to have an excuse! I usually use my age or my CFS but this is a much better one. "Mustn't think too much, it's bad for you!"
6 August, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Old Kitty
Oh I'm all for not thinking too much – steam will start to emanate from my ears and my molehill will be a mountain whenever I do think too much!!
Thanks for this – yes I feel very comforted by this! Take carex
6 August, 2010 at 2:45 pm
fairyhedgehog
Kitty, glad you liked it!
6 August, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Whirlochre
If reason prevailed, students wouldn't be getting involved in studies of jam in the first place.Students are for pretending to read books, getting drunk, and sporting ludicrous haircuts.
6 August, 2010 at 4:04 pm
fairyhedgehog
If reason prevailed, students wouldn't be getting involved in studies of jam in the first place.*laughs* Whirl, you've seen right to the heart of it!
6 August, 2010 at 4:58 pm
sylvia
I'm going to have nightmares about that little girl! What a smile…
6 August, 2010 at 5:19 pm
fairyhedgehog
sylvia, she looks positively evil, doesn't she?
6 August, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Theresa Milstein
This reminds me of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, which is all about gut instinct.
6 August, 2010 at 8:01 pm
jjdebenedictis
"I know it when I see it."As all the literary agents say when asked what they're looking for. At least they're not over-thinking it!
6 August, 2010 at 8:47 pm
fairyhedgehog
Theresa, I've heard of Blink but not read it. I've always preferred reasoned argument myself but it looks like I might be wrong.jjd, *laughs* We take comfort where we may!
6 August, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Peter Dudley
One wonders if perhaps the evidence is correct but the ultimate conclusion is flawed. The conclusion is based on the notion that the "jam experts" are imbued with some sort of jam evaluation talent that normal people lack and which is somehow True. Perhaps what this study really shows is that without applied thought, most people easily reach the same conclusions. That is, does applied thought clarify or obscure Truth?More to the point… I suspect the only real and valid conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that anyone without a brain can get a job as a "jam expert."
6 August, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Simon Kewin
I'd quite like to be on a course where you get to study jam. I'd probably take a honey module as well though.Interesting post!
7 August, 2010 at 7:14 am
fairyhedgehog
Peter, you have a point. I wonder what "jam experts" get paid. I think I could have a shot at that if they'd let me work from home!Simon, a honey module! What an excellent idea. I really could get into working and studying from home with this.
7 August, 2010 at 9:49 am
DJ Kirkby
Hah, excellent. The perfect excuse for me to take up a new career as a jam expert.
7 August, 2010 at 9:56 am
fairyhedgehog
DJK, it looks like the field could suddenly get overcrowded!
7 August, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Anonymous
Totally agree, and that's why I hate the corporate work life so much. They have forms and group-speak and double-doing bullshit that drive my nuts. Nike probably fired the first person who said they're slogan should be "just do it" and then they realized it was good, and they used it, and some management schlep asshole too credit for the phrase. Robin S.
7 August, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Robin B.
P.S. Sorry for all of the typos and they're/their stuff in the comment above. I was writing in a hurry, before reason took over, and I'm the typo queen of all time – there's that.Robin
7 August, 2010 at 4:17 pm
fairyhedgehog
Hi Robin! Corporate life totally sucks, I agree. The endless forms seem to be everywhere, together with BS talk: in schools, hospitals etc. as well as in the corporate world. One of my least favourite words is "leverage". No idea why!
8 August, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Lexi
I'm a believer in the truth of one's first gut reaction, so I loved this post, in spite of the truly scary little girl in the picture.I think you can talk yourself out of anything; and you can pass on something amazing because it doesn't quite fit the blueprint, or tick all the boxes. (Then, of course, you can write a novel about it…)
8 August, 2010 at 12:50 pm
fairyhedgehog
Hi Lexi! I'm the opposite, I think.I loved your book! I do hope it meets the success it deserves.