I’m sure many of us have heard the two types of cognitive processing systems: system 1 and system 2. System 1 is used frequently with quick decisions and is thinking that is driven by intuition and emotion. Many push the idea that system 1 is error prone. System 2 is based on logic and reasoning and is used for more complex decisions. It is often expressed as being reliable.
That’s not to say that intuition and emotion are unreliable, though. They are the primary instinctual characteristics of any decision being presented to us. Any decision begins with these innate reactions. Yet, our culture is one that promotes logic and reasoning over intuition and feeling.
We so desire for some objective truth in everything that we seek. To find that one right answer that can be proven with hard evidence. Hence, the huge increase in evidence-based methods. In fact, we often prefer any answer to none, no matter how flawed it may be.
However, feeling has truth to it too. Feelings are a byproduct of how we perceive external events. Sometimes feelings include the bulk or sole of our experience and knowledge to base decisions off of.
I think the best approach is to let emotions in and have the self-awareness to see a decision from both ends.
Don’t get too caught up in always trying to rationalize everything and make extremely well-informed decisions. There is certainty a time and place for this, but it should not make up our entire decision process.
Rationality is a big-picture thought process that should include emotion and intuition, and these aspects not be overlooked in making well-informed complex decisions.