THINKING STYLES

Course Objectives: Human beings approach daily tasks using a variety of thinking styles. Some situations, such as an important life decision, may prompt long hours of deliberation whereas others, such as an inconsequential purchase at the shopping mall, may take place with barely any thought. These relatively reflective and impulsive ways of responding to the world come with various benefits and drawbacks depending on features of the task and environment. Other mental capacities (e.g., arriving at insights after a period of unconscious incubation) may supplement these thinking styles. Thinking styles are influenced by evolution, culture, and individual development. They matter for who we become, how we relate to people and act in society, and the opinions we hold. This course explores the scientific evidence investigating thinking styles and the practical implications of such evidence.