“When System 1 runs into difficulty, it calls on System 2 to support more detailed and specific processing that may solve the problem of the moment. You generally believe your impressions and act on your desires, and that is fine - usually. When all goes smoothly, which is most of the time, System 2 adopts the suggestions of System 1 with little or no modification. If endorsed by System 2, impressions and intuitions turn into beliefs, and impulses turn into voluntary actions. System 1 continuously generates suggestions for System 2: impressions, intuitions, intentions, and feelings. System 1 runs automatically and System 2 is normally in comfortable low-effort mode, in which only a fraction of its capacity is engaged. “Systems 1 and 2 are both active whenever we are awake. Only if we encounter something unexpected, or if we make conscious effort, do we engage System 2 (Thinking Slow). Thus, we think we spend most of our time engaged in System 2 thinking.Īctually, we spend almost all of our daily lives engaged in System 1 (Thinking Fast). We consider ourselves rational, analytical human beings. Most of us identify with System 2 thinking. System 2 does reflection, problem-solving, and analysis. System 1 forms “first impressions” and often is the reason why we jump to conclusions. System 2 is the analytical, “critical thinking” way of making decisions. System 1 is the intuitive, “gut reaction” way of thinking and making decisions. We have a Two System way of thinking - System 1 (Thinking Fast), and System 2 (Thinking Slow). Here are some of the most important take-aways from the book.

It will help you understand why humans sometimes make errors in judgement, and how to look for signs that you yourself may be about to make a System 1 error. This book contains some profoundly important concepts around how people make decisions. I recently finished reading Thinking Fast and Slow, a book on behavioral psychology and decision-making by Daniel Kahneman.

Thinking fast and slow book