Educating Intuition

By Robin M. Hogarth

Book Overview

Every day we make intuitive decisions-from the mundane choice of what clothes to wear to more important issues such as which new car "feels right" or which person would be "good" for a particular job. To varying degrees, logic plays a role in these decisions, but at a certain point all of us rely on intuition, our sixth sense. Is this the right way to decide? Should we trust our gut feelings? When intuition conflicts with logic, what should we do?

In Educating Intuition, Robin M. Hogarth lays bare this mysterious process so fundamental to daily life by offering the first comprehensive overview of what the science of psychology can tell us about intuition-where it comes from, how it works, whether we can trust it. From this literature and his own research, Hogarth finds that intuition is a normal and important component of thought that has its roots in processes of tacit learning. Environment, attention, experience, expertise, and the success of the scientific method all form part of Hogarth's perspective on intuition, leading him to the surprising-but natural-conclusion that we can educate our sixth sense. To this end he offers concrete suggestions and exercises to help readers develop their intuitive skills and habits for learning the "right" lessons from experience.

Artfully and accessibly combining cognitive science, the latest research in psychology, and Hogarth's own observations, Educating Intuition eschews the vague approach to the topic that has become commonplace and provides instead a wholly engaging and practical guide to enhancing our intuitive skills.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226348628
• ISBN13: 9780226348629
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Groundbreaking review of research and theory.

This volume is not for the casual reader. It is a serious review of the emperical literature and theory surrounding a facinating and controversial aspect of cogative psychology. Since Carl Jung first proposed Intuition as one of the four basic psychological functions, defining this elusive function has posed an ongoing chanellge. The author's oporational definition and review of existing research plus his own elaboration of a comprehensive information processing theory of the origens and functioning of Intuition constitute a major contribution to theories of cognative science.

First rate scholarship

The role of the unconscious in decision making has become a topic of significant interest in recent years. This book is the best single source of information on this topic. R.Olsen, Decision Scientist.

Excellent book

Hogarth shows that he is both a fastidious scientist and a great educator. He explains complicated concepts clearly. He also helps the reader jump around in his book to suit the reader's needs. If you want to either understand intuitive reasoning, or learn how people learn to do it better, this is the book to get. My job is to develop curriculum at the National Outdooor Leadership School (NOLS) and I find this book very helpful in looking at how people can learn to make better decisions in real field situations. John Gookin