Deep thinkers wanted: Systems 1 & 2

Chapter 2 — What is System 1 and System 2 thinking? Are there other systems?

“Intelligence is not only the ability to reason; it is also the ability to find relevant material in memory and to deploy attention when needed.”
― Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow

Introduced in the book Thinking, Fast and Slow, System 1 and System 2 are terms coined by psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky to describe two different modes of thinking that people use when making decisions and judgments.

System 1 thinking is automatic, unconscious, and intuitive. It is fast, effortless, and relies on mental shortcuts and heuristics to make judgments and decisions quickly. System 1 is responsible for many of our snap judgments and gut reactions, and it is often useful for making quick decisions in familiar or straightforward situations.

System 2 thinking, on the other hand, is more deliberate, conscious, and analytical. It is slower, more effortful, and requires more mental effort and attention. System 2 is responsible for more complex, reflective, and logical thinking, and it is often used when making decisions in unfamiliar or complex situations.

“System 1 continuously generates suggestions for System 2: impressions, intuitions, intentions, and feelings. If endorsed by System 2, impressions and intuitions turn into beliefs, and impulses turn into voluntary actions. When all goes smoothly, which is most of the time, System 2 adopts the suggestions of System 1 with little or no modification.”
― Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow

The concept of System 1 and System 2 thinking has been influential in helping researchers and others understand the different ways in which people process information and make decisions. While Kahneman and Tversky’s original work focused specifically on these two systems of thinking, it is important to note that other researchers have proposed additional systems or modes of thinking. Some have even suggested that there may be a third system of thinking that is more creative and flexible, or that there may be multiple parallel systems of thinking that operate simultaneously.

READ: Chapter 3 — What is creative thinking and how can it be applied effectively in pragmatic situations?