Anton Kerkula
SSY 101.1940
Blink: The art of thinking without thinking
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Statements of interest
“Thin-slicing refers to the ability of our unconscious to find patterns and behaviors
based on very narrow slices of experience.”
“Our world requires that decisions be sourced and footnoted, and if we say how we
feel, we must also be prepared to elaborate on why we feel that way. – I think that
approach is a mistake, and if we are to learn to improve the quality of the decisions
we make, we need to accept the mysterious nature of our snap judgments. We need
to respect the fact that it is possible to know without knowing why we know and
accept that - sometimes - we’re better off that way”
“Spontaneity isn’t random.”
“Often a sign of expertise is noticing what doesn’t happen.”
“They gather and consider far more information then truly necessary because it
makes them feel more confident. – The irony, though is that that very desire for
confidence is precisely what ends up undermining the accuracy of their decision.
They feed the extra information into the already crowded equation they are building
in their heads, and the get even more muddled.”
“When we talk about analytic versus intuitive decision making, neither is good or
bad. What is bad is if you use either of them in an inappropriate circumstance. –
You disaggregate everything and tear it apart, but you are never able to synthesize
the whole. – If you get too caught up in the production of information, you drown in
the data.”
“With experience we become experts at using our behavior and our training to
interpret – and decode – what lies behind our snap judgments and first impressions.
It’s a lot like what people do when they are in psychoanalyst; they spend years
analyzing their unconscious with the help of a trained therapist until they begin to
get a sense of how their mind works. – All experts do this either formal or
informally. Gottman wasn’t happy with his instinctive reactions to couples. So he
taped thousands of man and women, broke down every second of the tapes, and ran
the data through a computer – and now he can sit down next to a couple in a
restaurant and confidently thin slice their marriage. Vic Braden the tennis coach
was frustrated by the fact that he knew when some was about to double-fault but
didn’t know how he knew. He is now teamed up with some experts in biomechanics
who are going to film and digitally analyze professional tennis players in the act of
serving so that they can figure out precisely what it is in the players delivery that
Braden is unconsciously picking up on. And why was Thomas Hoving so sure in
those first two seconds, that the Getty’s Kouros was a fake? Because over the course
of his life, he’d experience countless ancient sculptures and learned to understand
and interpret that first impression that crossed his mind. – he was learning how to
match the feeling he had about an object with what was formally understood about
its style and background and value. Whenever we have something that we are good
at - something we care about – that experience and passion fundamentally change
the nature of our first impressions. – This does not mean that when we are outside
our areas of passion and experience, our reaction are invariably wrong. It just
means that they are shallow. They are hard to explain and easily disrupted. They
aren’t grounded in real understanding.”
“Mind-reading allows us to adjust and update our perceptions of the intentions of
others. – We keep gathering information on him because we want to find out.”
“But one it the things that Van Ripper taught me that being able to act intelligently
and instinctively in the moment is possible only after a long and rigorous course of
education and experience.”
“It’s the kind of wisdom that someone acquires after a lifetime of learning and
watching and doing. It’s judgment. And what Blink is – is an attempt to understand
d the magical and mysterious thing we call judgment.”
“We have come to confuse information with understanding – the key to good
decision making is not knowledge. It’s is understanding. We are swimming in the
former. We are desperately lacking in the latter.”
Critical analysis
I actually enjoyed reading Blink, this book is surrounded by three concepts –
thin-slicing, the dangers of excessive information (D.O.E.I.), and mind reading.
These three concepts are then linked to the conclusions that we come to through
intuition or analytic evaluation – in short Blink is about how we use information to
form judgments. Although the author Malcolm Gladwell does not discourage the use
of analytic evaluation however, he suggests that we rely far too heavily on this
method and should also rely on other sources such as our intuition to gather
information, instead of just ignoring it.
Thin-slicing
The method of thin-slicing is not as mysterious as Malcolm Gladwell first
explained – thin-slicing is “the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in
situations and behavior based on very narrow slice of experiences”; however, the
missing components that are required to be effective at thin-slicing is an immense
knowledge of the field and the experience that you base your knowledge off of. When
using thin-slicing, they create a direct correlation between their knowledge,
experience, and intuition. The process of thin-slicing starts out with as a
unconscious comparison between the information that is received and the
information that is known. From this comparison an unexplainable conclusion is
formed; unfortunately this conclusion can only be expressed as a sort of “gut”
feeling. Although this concept sounds a bit farfetched at first after careful
deliberation, I asked myself “why wouldn’t thin-slicing be possible?” Is it because it
is not perfectly rational and it doesn’t provide any support for a conclusion either
then a hunch or feeling? It makes sense if you approach thin slicing from an
abstract perspective – as a person gains explicit knowledge and experience in a
field; they also gain a deeper and more fluent understanding of that respective field.
Eventually, they obtain a unique perspective (which can be compared as a sixth
sense) that excels beyond that of a novice or amateur. Now once they are exposed to
minute or limited collections of data, they automatically and unconsciously start to
organize and arrange it so that it is coherent. It is during this “organizational stage”
that they draw towards a conclusion or judgment either supporting or dismissing
the object/situation of their focus. Unfortunately this conclusion isn’t completely
clear to them (due to the fact that this whole process has occurred unconsciously)
and can only be explained to others as a persistent intuitive urge.
Dangers of excessive information (D.O.E.I.)
Out of the many factors that separate humans from animals, the only blatant
and distinguishable characteristic would be our minds. Humans have the ability to
use reason, logic, and for the most part make rational decisions. As a result, we are
not able to only process large amounts of information but also able to create
concepts that are based off of that information. While most people would agree that
the more knowledge that you possess, the more accurate you decisions will become
however, in Blink, Malcolm Gladwell explains that there is a danger of processing
excessive information (D.O.E.I.). The D.O.E.I. theory derives from the conclusions
that are formed because they are based off of excessively large amounts of data. The
reason this is a danger is that there are too many variables that are being
considered and because we are trying to acknowledge and satisfy the conditions of
each factor our decision may end up either incorrect or inaccurate. Unlike thinslicing, I don’t fully agree with the D.O.E.I. theory; on paper this theory makes
sense and seems plausible however, in practice I believe this is where it falls apart.
The major problem that I find with D.O.E.I. is “how do you know which information
to keep and which to discard, if you are not in the position or lack the ability to
differentiate from information that is essential and information that is irrelevant?”
In practical everyday situations that require minimal thought and experience such
as grocery shopping, it is simpler to evaluate the quality of each product, ignore any
minute factors like packaging, and then make a decision on the remaining factors.
But what if we were to use this method on a larger scale, one that requires
significant evaluation, like fixing a car? For someone who isn’t knowledgeable with
automobiles, ignoring details such as the vehicle condition, the current owner, the
age of the car or the car’s overall history could result in an incorrect analysis and
ultimately the wrong repair. Personally I feel that it would be more advantageous to
know as much details about a situation or item before making a decision; it would
lessen the chance of you making a critical mistake or error.
Mind reading
When you hear the term mind reading, the first impression that would
usually arise in your mind is the telepathic ability for one individual to read
another’s thoughts. In Blink, mind reading refers to the ability to read body
language through subtle/minute inconsistencies in a person’s behavior. As a result
of observing these consistencies or inconsistencies an idea of that person’s mentality
is then obtained. Coincidently, minding read derives from the process of thin slicing;
therefore, in order to effectively utilize the skill of mind reading one must also have
knowledge and some type of experience with reading body language. For instance,
when meeting someone new, most people try to grasp an idea of who they are by not
only listening to what they say but, also by observing how they act and react. By
monitoring slight changes in their facial expression, the tone of their voice, their
overall demeanor, etc. they begin to build an outline of that person’s personality.
Although there are clear interpretation issues when it comes to effectively
employing the mind reading concept, it is none the less one of those skills that
everyone should become adept with. Throughout each day there are multiple
instances where we attempt to figure out what is going through the next persons
mind. Although some moments are significantly more important compared to others
(ex. a job interview versus talking to a guy or a girl) mind reading still remains
valuable due to the fact that it enables us to bridge together the expressions that
appear on the exterior with the emotions and feelings that reside in the interior.
In conclusion, by utilizing the concepts of thin slicing, mind reading and
D.O.E.I. we would then become enabled to make better decisions, arrive at more
accurate conclusions and have an overall improved sense of judgment. However, the
singular major flaw that I find within these three concepts is that they are best
suited for the use of experts and professionals. While mind reading is a slight
exception because it can only be use in certain fields and situations, thin slicing and
D.O.E.I. would probably be the most commonly used concepts. The problem I find
with thin-slicing and mind reading is that both of these theories rely significantly
on the user’s knowledge and experience in that field; It would come natural for an
expert of twenty years to evaluate the flaws or coherence in an object or situation
simply because, they’ve been immersed in that field for so long that their
understanding of that field comes as a second nature. In the end I feel that the
application of these theories should be restricted from the use of novices and
amateurs. Although it is possible that an average person could attempt to apply the
use of these concepts, unless they are knowledgeable in what they are doing, they
would only increase their chances in making an error.
Aligning concepts
Excessive information and operant conditioning
Society is based off the idea that the more information you know the better
off you are. This ideology has been applied to the point that we have become
conditioned to accept only this method of information processing and decision
making. As children we are constantly taught to “look before we leap” and to
explain our decisions through extensive reasoning, but more importantly it is as
children that this operant conditioning begins and is continually reinforced
throughout our lifetime. When children first enroll in school they are taught that
answers are only accepted if there is some form of rational explanation behind it. If
a child fails to produce an answer based upon reason or logic, then they are exposed
to embarrassment. This can consist of criticism from their teacher and ridicule from
their peers. Operant conditioning is defined as the learning association between
behavior and the resulting event. Applying this definition to an academic
environment it isn’t difficult to see the relation between the two. The positive
reinforcement would be the praise that a child receives from their peers and
teachers for creating and explaining the correct answer. The negative reinforcement
is the ridicule that a child receives from their counterparts and teachers. The
primary reinforcement is the self confidence and ultimately the acceptance from
their peers and teachers through critical thinking. The conditioned reinforcement
would be the child’s desire to use critical analysis to create solutions for problems
for the reason that the child wants to experience that feeling of confidence within
their self and receive the acceptance from others.
In conclusion, I believe that a part of the reason that we rely on logical
reasoning is not just because it provides clear definitions and structure to a thought
but, it also awards us the satisfaction of personal accomplishment and increases the
chances that we will be accepted by others.
Mind reading, thin slicing, emotional intelligence and the differences between the
sexes
Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to perceive, understand,
manage, and use emotions. This process is closely intertwined with the ability to
thin slice and mind read. In order to read emotions and understand them fully first
we must be able to interpret when they are present; this is where mind reading is
utilized. By observing changes or more importantly, inconsistencies in a person’s
demeanor, we are able to see if they are trying to conceal or project a particular
emotion. However, like most processes that involve the mind, there is more than
one cognitive process occurring. Simultaneously as we mind read, our unconscious
begins to develop a thought or conclusion that is based on our pervious experiences
and knowledge of emotions. These thoughts then submerge into our conscious either
validating or dismissing our evaluation. As a result we feel more so know, if the
concealed or projected emotion is sincere or a façade.
One driving factor that determines the level of emotional intelligence that a
person has is their sex; the gender of person plays a somewhat significant role
during the process of reading emotions. Women naturally are better at reading
emotions compared to men this is due to the fact that, women particularly mothers
have and care for children. Mothers are required to read their infants body
language in order to know what they want or find out what is wrong with them. As
time passes this skill only becomes more refined and eventually develops into an
innate instinct. Men on the other hand have a limited ability to perform this act to
the same degree as women, unfortunately because of the limited exposure and
experience to reading emotions, men require more time and information before they
recognize the sincerity or deceitfulness of a projected/ concealed emotion.
Generically speaking men are inferior compared to women at reading emotions
however, this rule isn’t definite – if a man is exposed to situations that require him
to read body language he would eventually become adept at picking up and reading
emotions through body language.
Definitions
Articulate - expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness
Curator – the person in charge of a museum
Symposium – a meeting or conference for the discussion of some subject
Consensus – general agreement or concord
Pastiche – a literary, musical, or artistic piece consisting wholly or chiefly of motifs
or techniques borrowed from one or more sources.
Frugal – entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty
Apparatus – any system or systematic organization of activities, functions,
processes, ect., directed toward a specific goal
Deliberation – careful consideration before decision
Droll – amusing in an odd way; whimsically humorous; waggish
Contention – a struggling together in opposition; strife
Epiphanies – a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential
meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace
occurrence or experience
Stonewalling – the act of stalling, evading, or filibustering, to avoid revealing
politically embarrassing information
Yarmulke – a skullcap worn, during prayer and religious study, by Jewish males,
those adhering to orthodox or conservative tradition
Enumerate – to mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in
a list
Confederate – to unite in a league, alliance, or conspiracy
Implicit – implied, rather than expressly stated
Apartheid – any system or practice that separates people according to race, caste,
ect.
Concise – expressing or covering much in few words; brief in form but
comprehensive in scope
Parlance – a way or manner of speaking
Methodology – a set or system of methods, principles, and rules for regulating a
given discipline, as in the arts or sciences.
Antithesis – opposition; contrast; the direct opposite
Meticulous – taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; through
Cloying – causing or tending to cause disgust or aversion through excess
Receptive – willing or inclined to receive suggestion, offers, ect.
Aesthetically – according to aesthetics or its principles
Aesthetics – the branch of philosophy dealing with such notion as beautiful,
the ugly, the sublime, the comic, ect., as applicable to the fine arts, with a view to
establishing the meaning and validity of critical judgments concerning works of art,
and the principles underlying or justifying such judgments
Esoteric – understood by or meant for only the select few who have special
knowledge or interest; recondite
Vestibule – a passage, hall, or antechamber between the outer door and the interior
parts of a house or building.
Courtesans – a women prostitute, especially one whose clients are members of a
royal court or men of high social standing
Recalcitrant – resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant
Repertoire – a collection of works (plays, songs, operas, ballets) that an artist or
company can perform and do perform for short intervals on a regular schedule
Substantial – considerable in importance, value, degree, amount, or extent
Autonomic – relating to or controlled by the autonomic nervous system
Hauteur – haughty manner or spirit; arrogance
Condescension – the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered
inferior
Scrutinized – to examine in detail with careful or critical attention
Poignant – keen or strong in mental appeal
Virtuosos – a person who has special knowledge or skill in a field
Immaculate – free for fault or flaw
Blithely – without thought or regard; carefree; heedless
Ineffable – incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible
Abjured – to renounce or give up under oath; foreswear
Inundated – to overwhelm
A Priori – proceeding from a known or assumed cause to a necessarily related effect;
deductive
Fiefdoms – anything, as an organization or real estate, owned or controlled by one
dominant person or group
Excerpt – a passage or quotation taken or selected from a book, document, film or
the like; extract
Punitively – inflicting or aiming to inflict punishment; punishing
Antiquity – the quality of being ancient; ancientness