Finding a hidden door
into the maze and then the way out
Problem solving is a topic directly related to
decision making.
Problem solving is about:
into the maze and then the way out
Problem solving is a topic directly related to
decision making. Problem solving is about:
- Finding a
(preferably good!) solution,
either to a practical problem or to a theoretical issue.
- Even, in some cases discovering an opportunity,
hidden behind - or hanging aside - the problem or issue,
which supposes a quite open, creative and opportunistic mind,
which supposes a quite open, creative and opportunistic mind,
What is needed for efficient problem solving?
To meet the challenge,
- not only observation and reasoning,
- but also creativity, a taste for new ideas,
- and enough courage to face realities and make hard decisions)
are important factors in problem solving.
(not to neglect our moving organs that start acting, sometimes in anticipation)
(not to neglect our moving organs that start acting, sometimes in anticipation)
From the full process...
Practically, problem solving is, as described in the decision making article,
a several step process, that goes from gathering information to analyzing,
imagining, deciding and implementing.
Every of those steps mentioned above has its pitfalls, if only because mental biases
tend to intervene.
The differences are that
* problem solving is usually decision making ...under stress.
*it adresses new situations with no ready-made solutions (heuristics) available.
This makes things more difficult, but on the other hand it avoids lazy-thinking
and "jumping to conclusion" that might bring defective solutions by lack of fact-
finding and shallow analysis.
Thus, whenever possible, the whole decision making process mentioned above
should be performed with care, and some knowledge of those potential biases
is useful.
a several step process, that goes from gathering information to analyzing,
imagining, deciding and implementing.
Every of those steps mentioned above has its pitfalls, if only because mental biases
tend to intervene.
The differences are that
* problem solving is usually decision making ...under stress.
*it adresses new situations with no ready-made solutions (heuristics) available.
This makes things more difficult, but on the other hand it avoids lazy-thinking
and "jumping to conclusion" that might bring defective solutions by lack of fact-
finding and shallow analysis.
Thus, whenever possible, the whole decision making process mentioned above
should be performed with care, and some knowledge of those potential biases
is useful.
...to the fast track
In cases of emergency, some mental or physical automatisms might drastically
shorten the process or even bypass it.
You know how Alexander the Great cut the knot with its sword.
Reliance on the "gut instinct" (or on the "fight or flight" instinct, a neuron acceleration
fueled by adrenaline), however efficient in some occasions (it can give an alert about
some weak signal / discrepancy not consciously identified), could be a trap.
The usual automatisms that are activated in such a "fast track" can be two-sided :
shorten the process or even bypass it.
You know how Alexander the Great cut the knot with its sword.
Reliance on the "gut instinct" (or on the "fight or flight" instinct, a neuron acceleration
fueled by adrenaline), however efficient in some occasions (it can give an alert about
some weak signal / discrepancy not consciously identified), could be a trap.
The usual automatisms that are activated in such a "fast track" can be two-sided :
* They might come from experience, knowledge, positive feelings and underground
work by our always active neurons (an unconscious constructive power)
* but on the orher hand they might not fit the situation or the decider's goals, or be
under the influence of violent emotions / compulsions, or in some cases result
from an overconfidence on one's own experience that prevents to dig further.
work by our always active neurons (an unconscious constructive power)
* but on the orher hand they might not fit the situation or the decider's goals, or be
under the influence of violent emotions / compulsions, or in some cases result
from an overconfidence on one's own experience that prevents to dig further.
=> Thus, when there is no real emergency, and the intuition is only an emotional
symptom, it is better, even if we believe we found the solution, to "sleep on it", or
at least to calm down before implementing it.
On the other hand, to train ourselves to use and improve the "magical triangle":
- Experience/ education
- Anticipation / imagination
- Preparation
but at the same time avoiding overconfidence on one's aptitude, can bring us important
practical keys and means to be ready to respond quickly to problems.
See details in the main article on this topic: Decision making
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practical keys and means to be ready to respond quickly to problems.
See details in the main article on this topic: Decision making
Back to collection: decision psychology articles migrated from Knol
Pageviews for this article before migration from Knol : 1.9 k
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