Decision Making and Marriage

Rene Descrates once said Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am), pointing out how the process of thinking proves the very existence of the individual. The though process is as such quintessential and it is present in a variety of forms; Daniel Kahneman (2012) approaches the process in his book "Thinking, fast and slow" in terms of the systems of thought. According to him, there are two systems, one which is faster, emotional and based on intuition, and one which is slower, logical and more deliberative.

In Frames and reality, Kahneman reveals the relativity of truth and meaning. In other words, he points out how two seemingly different statements might have the same meaning, but also how the same meaning can have different significance for those who are presented with the meaning. In both cases, the initial reaction is a fast one, whereas the logical depths are identified with the aid of the second system of thought.

Two selves takes a further step in the thought process and reveals how an experience can have double meanings at the level of the very individual. A relevant example in this sense is represented by the understanding of an event or situation through the lenses of memory and experience, which can impact the objectivity of perception. In various cases, the perception is influenced by either biology or rationality.

In Life as a story, Kahneman points out how the importance in life is not given by the passing of time, but by the events which mark the passing of time; it is about the emotions and the stories. Life as such becomes a story, a memorable tale from which people will remember the most important moments. This feature is best applied at the level of the second system of thought.

In the context of life as a story, Kahneman points out that the well-being of an individual is also an important component of the life memories one makes. This feature is also best observable in the context of the second system of though and it is revealed throughout the chapter Experiences well-being.

In the 38th chapter, Thinking about life, Kahneman assesses the overall quality of life relative to specific factors. In the case of marriage, this is expected to make people happier, yet their life satisfaction decreases in the years after the marriage, comparative to the actual year of marriage. This reveals the initial expectation at the level of the first system of thought, and the reality assessed at the second level of thought.

In the concluding chapter, author Daniel Kahneman (2012) reviews his insertions of the two thinking systems within the psychological field; he also addressed and reviews the concepts of the two selves and the econs and humans. The process of thought is ultimately understood as a complex combination and interaction of the two systems of thought, interaction which can sometimes be uneasy, and even conflicting.

Finally, the last two chapters of Thinking, fast and slow are presented in annex forms and they deal with additional components of the though process. In Judgment under uncertainty: heuristic biases, emphasis is placed on the element of insecurity in the process of decision making, and the need to make judgments based on unknown variables. In such a context, import roles would be played by both first as well as second systems.