Intuition

Authors: Laborde, S., Ramisch, J. and Mosley, E.

Editors: Carducci, B.J., Nave, C.S., Mio, J.S. and Riggio, R.E.

Volume: III

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Place of Publication: United States

ISBN: 9781118970744

DOI: 10.1002/9781118970843.ch220

Abstract:

Previous views on the construct of intuition deemed it unreliable and only purely analytical thinking was seen as the ideal form of human reasoning. However, now there is increasing empirical evidence that intuitions can play a vital role in successful human adaptation. Intuitions are a non‐deliberative mode of thinking, based on knowledge stored in long‐term memory, mainly acquired via associative learning. The input is processed automatically and without any form of conscious awareness from the individual. The output enables fast and affectively charged decision‐making, which is often expressed as a “gut feeling,” but cannot be explicitly articulated further than this. As a result of their fast and heuristic nature, intuitions can demonstrate their strength particularly in times of uncertainty, complex environments, and under time constraints. Intuition is examined across various fields of application and carries great potential for successful decision‐making, although types and origins of intuitions as well as methodological issues are still debated.

Source: Manual