"Memories"

How experiences shape us?

     Today my thoughts reminisce to memories from my childhood.  How my dad loved to host, he would  invite family and friends over as he entertained with conversation while he bar-b-qued.  He would grill enough food for a small army.  This was always a treat making for leftovers the next day.  My mom would prepare her world famous potato salad and side dishes.  My mouth waters thinking about it.

     Is this where I acquired my love for people?  

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     In his book titled, “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell’s recurring theme is that rapid cognition occurs in the blink of an eye or, basically, two seconds.  This book is about the time in which our mind takes approximately two seconds to deduce a series of conclusions. Gladwell believes those instant conclusions are powerful, and often correct.  However, we as humans, often talk ourselves out of what our unconscious state has already determined.  We also are unable to explain why we formed the conclusions in the first place and have a difficult time accepting our rapid decisions. In today’s society, we have been taught the best decisions are made when we gather a lot of information.  We are taught to read the information thoroughly before we make a decision.  Gladwell disputes this technique and claims there are several situations, even those events that are very stressful that our rapid, unconscious decisions are much better than gathering and deciphering a large amount of information.  Gladwell utilizes several stories to prove his theory and demonstrate how effective rapid decision making processes can be. 

     I can relate.  There have been times that I made a decision based on a first impression.  If I feel confident about my decision I let it be.  If I over think my decision I have been known to talk myself out of my initial decision and worst yet, I end up making no decision.  What to do?

     Not making a decision is actually making a decision which often results in a poor outcome. 

     Gladwell suggest,  “Thin slicing” the ability of our unconscious state to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience. 

     One example discussed height and how tall, attractive people are often paid higher salaries and gain positions of power fairly easily.  This is a form of prejudice and discrimination that often leads to people of mediocrity in positions of enormous responsibility.  Gladwell cautioned we need to take more care in not prejudging people based on appearances.  Psychologists have found that facial expressions can generate our own sadness and anguish.  When a person simply makes a face, their heartbeat will increase and the hands get hot.  As the heart rate continues increasing we see the probability of bad things happening increase.  At a heart rate of 175, there is an absolute breakdown of cognitive processing.  We can’t disconnect from the autonomic nervous system that causes these reactions.  Our separate involuntary system uses micro-expressions that cannot be voluntarily controlled. 

     The key to good decision making is not knowledge.  It is understanding.  We have a wealth of knowledge but we often lack the understanding component of making good decisions. 

     Conclusion: Make better use of first impressions and take charge of the first two seconds to see what I truly know.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

 By Joseph Murphy

Title: “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” Author: Malcolm Gladwell