The Challenges and Cultivation of Rapid Cognition

Key Insight

Society typically distrusts rapid cognition, prioritizing conscious deliberation, as reflected in maxims like 'haste makes waste.' However, while powerful, the adaptive unconscious is fallible; its insights can be thwarted by competing interests, emotions, or overwhelming external data. The Getty Museum's desire to build a world-class collection, coupled with seemingly conclusive scientific findings, overrode the intuitive doubts of many experts. For instance, the geological analysis initially supported the statue's antiquity, but later analysis revealed that 'aging' a dolomite marble surface could potentially be achieved in months using potato mold, casting doubt on its initial interpretation.

Furthermore, the deliberate investigation into the kouros was misled by falsified evidence. Letters tracing the statue's provenance back to a Swiss physician, dating from 1952 and 1955, contained anachronistic details like a postal code that did not exist until 20 years later and a bank account not opened until 1963. Initially, the statue's style was concluded to be consistent with the Anavyssos kouros, but upon closer examination, experts recognized it as a 'puzzling pastiche' of different styles from various periods and places, including modern-looking feet and hair resembling other kouroi. The kouros was eventually linked to a smaller, fragmentary statue found in Switzerland in 1990, which originated from a forger's workshop in Rome in the early 1980s, confirming the intuitive repulsion felt by many.

Despite its susceptibility to being misled, rapid cognition is not an unalterable gift but an ability that can be educated and controlled. It is possible to learn when to trust and when to be wary of these powerful internal judgments by understanding the specific reasons why they go awry. By consciously shaping and managing unconscious reactions, individuals can make better snap judgments. This cultivation of rapid cognition holds the potential to significantly improve decision-making across diverse fields, from fighting wars and product design to police training and job interviews. Ultimately, recognizing the value in 'the blink of an eye' can lead to a 'different and better world' by acknowledging that rapid insights can be as valid as months of rational analysis.