To Think Smart, Think Slow

So, our two-system mind is subject to all sorts of cognitive errors. What can we do about it? How can we more reliably make good decisions?

First, recognize when your automatic, System 1 thinking is leading you astray, then slow down and get reinforcement from System 2. While this can be very hard to do in the moment, knowing about the existence of cognitive biases and fallacies makes it more likely you’ll spot them. It’s also a lot easier to recognize when others are wandering into a cognitive minefield. Giving and getting feedback from people around you makes avoiding errors more likely.