Nowadays, snap judgment can be more authentic than the considered one. In the book named Blink, Malcolm Gladwell provides several examples of what he calls “thin-slicing,” which is using the minimal information to make a quick conclusion or judgment about certain situations or people’s characteristics. In the introduction of the book, Gladwell gives an example of J. Paul Getty Museum’s purchase of a sculpture, which later turns out to be a forgery. The museum buys the Kouros after 14 months on investing; however, after displaying the statue, experts express the abnormal of it and later find out that the sculpture is fake. In addition, the author introduces the idea of “thin-slicing” by mentioning the experiments that psychologist John Gottman
from the University of Washington uses. Gottman is able to determine 90 percent accuracy on whether a marriage couple will get divorced by observing them talking for 15 minutes and coding their tones and facial expressions. Gladwell also states that the first impression is very precise, but people still cannot explain how the subconscious mind works. Vic Braden, who is one of the world’s top tennis coaches, can predict whether or not a tennis player is going to double fault, but he cannot identify how he is so exact about this. Even though making decisions based on the first impression can be very accurate, people should not apply this to every situation. In the book Blink, Gladwell’s main argument is that judgments base on “thin-slicing” are more exact and powerful than judgments make by more information. In my opinion, I strongly disagree with Gladwell about his idea of the accuracy of the first impression. One example that he uses is from Gottman’s experiment, which he lets the strangers make a prediction on people’s personality by looking at their dorm room. Gottman argues that these strangers have a better view of the person that they observe than his or her friends. To me, this is not true. When people spend more time talking and hanging out with their friends, they will understand the underlying personality of their friends much better than someone who only knows them for 15 minutes. In my culture, people will not judge one another when they only see each other for the first time. This type of behavior will avoid people from grudge, which develops by the misunderstanding of one person to another. In conclusion, people should not always rely on their snap decision because this can be harmful later.
“People don't rise from nothing....It is only by asking where they are from that we can unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesn't”(Gladwell 18).
David and Goliath is the story of a young shepherd whom lacking of any kind of combat training, managed to overcome a giant, who was sophisticated in combat tactics, just using his wit. In modern times, that act is used as an analogy to compare people who against all odds overcome a difficult situation in their lives.
In the article Threshold of Violence published by The New Yorker Magazine, author Malcolm Gladwell alludes to the cause of school shootings and why they transpire. Gladwell tries to make sense of the epidemic by consulting a study of riots by stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter. Granovetter sought to understand “why people do things that go against who they are or what they think is right, for instance, why typically non-violent, law-abiding people join a riot”(Granovetter). He concluded that people’s likelihood of joining a riot is determined by the number of people already involved. The ones who start a riot don’t need anyone else to model this behavior for them that they have a “threshold” of zero. But others will riot only if someone
When we go about our daily lives there are many things that go undetected. One such undetected event goes on inside our own head. Thinking without thinking, an idea brought forth in Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, where your brain is processing information that you aren't even aware of yet. Some of the best outcomes are produced from this “idea”. Another huge topic in this novel is the idea of “thin slicing”. Where your brain can come to a conclusion within seconds of analyzing the situation. Thin slicing is proven in this book to be more resourceful than putting any length of thought into a situation. But in order for Gladwell to drive home his ideas, he is going to need the help of some psychologists tests to prove that he is right.
"Burn em' to ashes, then burn the ashes",imagine a fireman saying these words, fireman that burn things to ashes instead of putting the ashes out; that use flame throwers instead of water hoses. In the futuristic distopian society created by Ray Bradbury in the book Fahrenheit 451 is the harsh reality that main character Montag must go through with his drug addicted wife, a retired English Professor named Faber, and a very intelligent fire captain named cap. Beatty, as well as a teenage girl named Clarise that is the symbol of purity. .
The North Korean government is known as authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship. North Korea could be considered a start of a dystopia. Dystopia is a community or society where people are unhappy and usually not treated fairly. This relates how Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 shows the readers how a lost of connections with people and think for themselves can lead to a corrupt and violent society known as a dystopia.
Malcom Gladwell, is an author of numerous New York Times Best Sellers, who uses several techniques in his writing to clarify and support his argument. Gladwell’s techniques are using stories to appeal to the reader’s emotions. Using scientific facts and research to logically strengthen his argument. Also, writing about controversial issues to establish credibility with the readers. These techniques are found in “Offensive Play”, “Small Change”, and “Harlan, Kentucky”, works by Gladwell.
The Majority of people today believe that the society in Fahrenheit 451 is far-fetched and could never actually happen, little do they know that it is a reflection of the society we currently live in. In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 books are burnt due to people's lack of interest in them and the fire is started by firemen. Social interactions is at an all time low and most time is spent in front of the television being brainwashed by advertisements. In an attempt to make us all aware of our faults, Bradbury imagines a society that is a parallel to the world we live in today by emphasizing the decline in literature, loss of ethics in advertisement, and negative effects of materialism.
Ky Vo College writing Mrs. Bergaus May 16, 2016. What Awaits Us in The Future. What is the meaning of happiness? In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, happiness is a virtual family, watching endless amounts of TV on a huge plasma display and working out. Ray Bradbury depicts a dystopian future America, where the government is corrupt, socializing is strange and reading books is against the law.
New Yorker author Malcolm Gladwell claims that there were two types of failure: choking and panicking. He explains all of this in his article, “The Art of Failure,” focusing on real-life examples and their experiences of choking and panicking. Gladwell uses many examples of the two and argues how similar yet different they were.
To most people the blink of an eye is a very short span of time. Most people would not believe, however, that critical information can be gathered and a conclusion made in the blink of an eye. In Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell proves that split second decisions or what some call “gut decisions” can be just as reliable if not more reliable than drawn out, researched conclusions. Gladwell believes that this book will revolutionize the thought process and the world, he proves this by using exemplification and compare and contrast.
Gladwell refers ‘thin slicing’ as the ability to make a fast conclusion using very little information. This is an activity that almost everybody does on a daily basis when faced with different issues. In his book, Gladwell focuses on how mental process work rapidly for one to make the best and accurate judgements. He provides several examples where quick and accurate decisions are made and they are; gambling, advertising, wars and sales. Thin slicing proves that sudden decisions are right compared to those that are planned and calculated. However, thin slicing can limit individuals’ understanding of the surrounding because of inadequate data.
The symbol of the Phoenix flashed across Montag’s vision as they reached the freshly burnt city from the bombs. No, thought Montag, it’s done and over with. He’s gone. It’s all over. I am okay. Shaking his head, he looked into the sky as if it was the first time he had seen it and squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Images of Mildred and the Mechanical Hound and Clarisse and Beatty and Faber flashed across his vision this time, causing Montag to stagger slightly. I can’t live like this, with all the worry and guilt and fear. Montag suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, quickly turned, prepared to fight and instead faced Granger.
In the first chapter of Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, the idea of thin slicing is introduced. Gladwell (2005) defines this idea as, “the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behaviors based on very narrow slices of experience” (p. 23). In other words, Gladwell (2005) is arguing that one’s unconscious is able to find patterns in other’s behavior that, in turn, shape one’s opinions and thoughts about that new person. Illustrating this phenomenon, Blink analyzes the research work of a psychologist, John Gottman, and his ability to use the technique of thin slicing. Gottman can predict, with 95 percent accuracy, if after 15 years if a married couple will stay married. Using this critical part of rapid cognition, Gottman interpretes
An example of this is when people form judgements about certain events or topics such as the news. When people form judgements they do not come out of thin air; people form judgements using shared and personal knowledge, reason, perspective, and emotions. Depending on the topic, emotions may or may not play a large role in the formation of people’s judgements. This past summer, the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage which caused a huge controversy among many people. I remember seeing friends having large debates over social media about the court’s ruling. In summer school two people got into a heated argument when discussing the topic in my government class. When people asked me for my opinion on the ruling, I simply refused to comment so that I would not get into a debate with another person. Were people placing a large emphasis on their emotions when forming their judgements? There was a sense of confirmation bias among the people when they were debating. This confirmation bias stemmed from a strong emotional attachment to one’s opinions. It is up to the person to decide whether or not they act on their emotions. Because of my religious background, I felt discontent with the ruling. I began to think, “Was I too quick to come up with an opinion on the ruling?” Like the others, I could not repress my emotions towards the topic. But,