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The Unconscious Mind is a Great Decision Maker
Intro
At times, we think that in order to make a better decision, we have to think. But studies suggest that we can actually make great decisions without thinking; in fact, the unconscious mind does most of the thinking for us when the choices we have to make are complex.
Research
A study by Dijksterhuis looks at whether people make better choices about cars when they think or didn’t think about the attributes they were provided with about the cars to make a decision. The participants were randomly assigned to either a 4 attributes (simple problem) or 12 attributes (complex problem) condition. Then in either conditions they were asked to think about the attributes or were distracted from thinking (by having to solve a puzzle). They found that more subjects choose the better car when they do not think for the 12 attributes. Furthermore, they found that when provided with 4 attributes, the opposite findings (thinking is better) were true.
In summary, it’s better to ‘sleep on it’ and not think when the choices we have to make are complicated while it is better to think when the choices are simpler (involving considering only 4 or fewer factors).
Theory
Often times when we make choices (regardless of the complexity), we list out the pros and cons without taking into any account the actual importance of each point. In the above study example, we weigh all 12 attributes of the cars equally when we should only be looking at the top 4.
Another reason is because our working memory is limited in its abilities to take all 12 attributes into account. However, the unconscious mind can. So when the participants in the study were distracted with the puzzle task, they are actually leaving their unconscious mind to do the thinking for them. And the choices they make turns out to be better ones. Our unconscious mind is much more efficient in thinking about things that involve many other things to consider. Hence, as the article below suggests, ‘sleep on it.’
Source
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So,Mut.. don’t think too much :)

The Unconscious Mind is a Great Decision Maker

Intro

At times, we think that in order to make a better decision, we have to think. But studies suggest that we can actually make great decisions without thinking; in fact, the unconscious mind does most of the thinking for us when the choices we have to make are complex.

Research

A study by Dijksterhuis looks at whether people make better choices about cars when they think or didn’t think about the attributes they were provided with about the cars to make a decision. The participants were randomly assigned to either a 4 attributes (simple problem) or 12 attributes (complex problem) condition. Then in either conditions they were asked to think about the attributes or were distracted from thinking (by having to solve a puzzle). They found that more subjects choose the better car when they do not think for the 12 attributes. Furthermore, they found that when provided with 4 attributes, the opposite findings (thinking is better) were true.

In summary, it’s better to ‘sleep on it’ and not think when the choices we have to make are complicated while it is better to think when the choices are simpler (involving considering only 4 or fewer factors).

Theory

Often times when we make choices (regardless of the complexity), we list out the pros and cons without taking into any account the actual importance of each point. In the above study example, we weigh all 12 attributes of the cars equally when we should only be looking at the top 4.

Another reason is because our working memory is limited in its abilities to take all 12 attributes into account. However, the unconscious mind can. So when the participants in the study were distracted with the puzzle task, they are actually leaving their unconscious mind to do the thinking for them. And the choices they make turns out to be better ones. Our unconscious mind is much more efficient in thinking about things that involve many other things to consider. Hence, as the article below suggests, ‘sleep on it.’

Source

FaceBook Page for More!

Want to do me a favor?