We all like to think of ourselves as rational actors, careful and considered in our thinking, capable of sound and reliable judgments. We might believe that we generally consider different points of view and make ① informed decisions. We are, in fact, “predictably irrational,” as psychologist Dan Ariely titled his book on the topic. All of us engage in automatic, reflexive thinking, typically taking the ② easier path and conserving mental effort. Although we each may have the subjective impression that we are careful thinkers, we often make snap judgments or no real judgments at all. In addition, numerous biases inhibit or override reflective, deliberative thought; intuitive theories can also interfere with ③ acceptance of accurate scientific explanations. Understanding more about how our minds work and how biases may operate can make us each ④ less subject to fallacious reasoning, more rational, and more aware of the problems in others’ thinking. Learning to understand the built-in ⑤ rationality of our mental processes can also help us improve our ability to inform others more effectively.
* intuitive: 직관적인 ** fallacious: 오류가 있는