Thinking Fast and Slow - Story Summary

Understanding System 1 and System 2

• System 1 (Automatic System)

  • Acts without conscious effort
  • Example: Reacting quickly to seeing a ghost
  • Hero in the story
  • Seasoned veteran
  • Relies on first instincts
  • Extremely stubborn

• System 2 (Effortful System)

  • Requires conscious mental effort
  • Scholar called for tough tasks
  • Intelligent but can be lazy
  • Invests minimum effort required
  • Helps and organizes the hero
  • Acts according to system 1’s beliefs

• Relationship Between Systems

  • Mutually beneficial
  • Complement each other perfectly
  • May not always admit their reliance on each other

The Story

• Setting: In the kingdom of your brain

• Main Characters

  • Hero (System 1)
  • Scholar (System 2)
  • Queen (Emotion/Context Indicating Stress)

• Plot Points

  • Hero detects Queen's displeasure instantly through her facial expression and voice
  • System 1's automatic response: Based on past experiences, knows listening is crucial

• Internal Task

  • A note from the frontal lobe (prefrontal cortex) reminds you of an important entrance exam for college
  • This exam is causing stress and disarray in the kingdom (your brain)

• Actions Taken

  • Hero recognizes the need for action and signals the scholar
  • Scholar ensures all study materials are prepared
  • Hero and scholar head to the familiar library to study

To be continued...